Hello again! It's been quite a while- thank you friends, for your continued support from such a far away place.
Two nights ago, I came home under a beautifully starry sky, and was greeted by my two younger "brothers" (Chafik and Ronnie) they came over to me- each wearing one shoe, and they hugged each of my legs. I had to giggle when I saw each of their other shoes lying at the edge of the veranda, by the door. I partly understood their hesitation to wear both shoes, because they've always just played to their heart's delight without shoes of any kind. They are very fun, and good at being the Lord's instrument for teaching me patience and kindness.
Just last week, our University held elections for the student body. Outside the school's main gate, there were a lot of energetic people trying to gain support for different candidates. After buying a small snack, called a rolex (a tortilla like thing called a chipote, which wraps itself around a fried egg- it's wonderfully tasty), we walked back into the University and I had the great opportunity of climbing a guava tree for the first time. I must say that I was encouraged to do so by the few female students already doing so- and they were certainly surprised to see that I was actually doing it with them.
It has been so fun to meet students in different activities such as this. I've been blessed by a brother from Arua- a northern part of Uganda. He (Pastor Stephen) shares time and prayers with me every once in a while. We first met as he asked me to pray for him (what courage he showed me!), and since then, he's told me stories and testimonies from work he's had in the North among children and families, and now he's teaching me how to play the Adungu (a small harp/drum-like instrument that will surely be played in heaven:)
Next Tuesday, the 31st, our program's students have been given the opportunity to lead the community worship service- including music, message, prayers, etc. The University's theme this term has been Christian maturity, and we are working in different groups to finish planning. I'm on the message committe, prayerfully considering the Lord's calling to me in the way of speaking/ opening His Holy Word before others- we would love your prayers for our unity, and for wisdom as well. I'll report as to how these things work out.
We've been learning primarily about AIDS/HIV as of recently, so our trip last weekend was to Luweero. Our purpose was to visit a Bishop, and a priest from the Luweero Diocese, and to spend time at a family's home. We learned of how these brothers in the Church of Luweero are serving the Lord, and we were priveleged also to attend a Catholic church service (I smile to remember how it was about a 15 minute drive down a red dirt side road to arrive at the gathering). The family we visited were Christians who have chosen to take in 3 other families fighting with AIDS, and often they will invite children from the neighborhood to join them for worship, games, fellowship, visiting- for the sake of growing in Christ and destroying stigma created by AIDS rumors. The Lord's mercy is seen through the actions of this family, and their faith in Him- it was very encouraging, especially after wondering what the right response to the disease would be for Christians.
Being a Christian is something we've been critically analyzing this semester- visiting muslim sites of worship, learning of African traditional religions, colonialism, and discipleship. We just finished the book, "Compassion", and are now zooming toward the book, "Mere Discipleship". My faith is being tested and shaped and purified in the living Lord, Jesus.
Last story for now, encouraging me in my faith: We'd just arrived in Luweero at the Anglican guest house, and I went over to a huge mango tree, to gaze at the almmost ripe fruit when a man on a bicycle named Joseph came over to talk with me. I began to talk with him about the mangoes, and I put my hands out, asking if they just wait for them to fall or something. Before I'd finished the sentence, my eye barely caught sight of the small green mango that fell about 14 feet- straight into my hand! Joseph and I were the only physical witnesses of whatever you want to call what happened. All I know is that it blessed me. May God bless each of you in many ways.
His,
Geoff

Rural Kapchorwa

When we went to rural homestays this past week, I thought I would climb a lot of trees. I didn’t climb too many of those, but living in the mountainous town of Kapchorwa allowed plenty of opportunity to climb and scurry about the hilly land. I learned from my friend Lazerous (the runner I met in the dining hall), that Kapchorwa is known by runners for a college named Sebei that allows them room and board- this for the sake of the world class training opportunities which surround the college in the mountains. 

One of the main purposes for our stay in Kapchorwa, was to gain exposure to more than a couple small cities of Uganda- it would be easy to return home and say, "Uganda is this... or that, but now our statements and understanding upon return won't be so nearsighted at least:) I do say, it felt like moving from a place like Sacramento, to maybe Lodi (both CA cities)
 

The course of the week was pretty relaxing. We weren't allowed to bring much homework, so our job as students was to be a part of the family. My family's name was, Sabila (from the Kapquecha tribe). John was my dad, and Claudette was my mom. This couple had 2 sons (about 4th grade), and one daughter (about 20 years old) still at home.

There were many beautiful views near to our house, and it was especially neat to go on hikes to the river, through banana fields, along the road. One hike my dad took me on, came eventually to a very big cave that he'd apparently hid cattle in with fellow neighbors when a neighboring people raided them for livestock many years ago. On the way, we passed many smiling (and almost scared) children. We also passed goat, and cattle herders, and oxen plowing fields. It is about rainy season there now, so we saw many people preparing their fields. Another hike my neighbor friend (Andrew) took me on, went straight through people's property, and right alongside the river. We hiked for a couple miles on mildly hilly landscape, and there we also saw children- one group was fishing with cool hook poles, and my friend told me a phrase in the vernacular language to yell, so I did and I wish I could describe the surprised/funny look the children gave this mzungu (white man) who should not know their language. At the end of that hike, we watched the sunset over the long and wide valley at the end of the Kapchorwa foothills. The land we could see is where the city of Seroti is, and where the Karamajong people tend to live.
Other activities during the week included: watching the many wondering chickens and two mellow cows each morning, as our mom seriously milked them for our morning tea, and dad grabbed motoke stems for them to eat. Also, I visited the elementary school next to our home, and played frisbee and futbol with many of the students. I met a couple amazing guys who shared with me of their love for Jesus- one is a musician there in his town, and another is a farming Christian (I guess you could say a farmer man, fisher of men). It was neat, he told me, "I help people learn how to farm, and tell them they won't have true and full (harvest) until they commit life unto their Creator and Lord- Jesus Christ. Besides these two guys, I met a muslim man after watching a goat slaughtering. The scene was harsh- I'd never seen an animal have it's life intentionally taken in that way. Anyway, we began talking afterward and I learned that he had been a 'christian' , but then became a muslim, because many of the people he was with were muslim. Amazingly, my dad told me that his family had all converted in the same way, but he remained a Christian, and to this day he and his own children still seek the Lord.

I really enjoyed a hike that our entire group went on together on the last day, after we had reunited. Beginning at the entrance to Mt. Elgon national park, we hike down the mt.- stopping at 3 beautiful, and very large waterfalls. We also shared reflection about the different lifestyle in rural areas with one another- as a group, and we talked about gender roles, and fun questions we were asked about America, and our lifestyles at home. On Sunday, before we departed, we worshipped the Lord on top of a hill above our "lodges". We'd brought the guitar, and then looked at Psalm 121. It's amazing to think about God's hand upon beauty in so many places and people. This passage from Psalm 121 was especially neat, being in a mountainous area, and learning that in the days it was written- the hills were places typically used for idol shrines, and the Israelites would look up to the hills and say- "I lift up my eyes to the hills- from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth...."

On campus again

We’ve returned from our home stays in a rural part of Uganda. Kapchorwa was the name of the town that our IMME group stayed in. I’m writing a small bit about the 10 days we spent there, and I shall post that very soon.
Half way through the week, my old roommate David went back to America for the semester, while I will remain at the home I’ve been staying at in Mukono.
I realize I’ve not been good at integrating into my community, and that I need to be intentional about serving around my home. At the same time, so much grace has been given to me- even in the way our heavenly Father is leading me into meeting people on campus.
Just last night I got to watch a soccer game here at our University for the first time. As I sat watching, a brother came and introduced himself, and sat next to me. His name is Michael Ommara (his second name awesomely means, "I am loved"). It was so neat to sit at this soccer game with Michael learning some cool stuff about bird hunting methods he uses, and to learn more about the intricate cooking methods required for things such as sweet potato paste, and white ant balls.
This last thing with the ants is especially cool- the white ants will come out of the ground a couple times throughout the year, and when they do, they are captured using small grass tents over the ant mounts, and also by setting flame in pits so as to attract the ants to a place from which they can't get out. Yesterday was a day for the ants to come out, and there were a lot of them around our campus.