Settled Down and Ready To Go (Friday): Trip #7

The rest of our trip from Amsterdam was fairly uneventful. Josh, Stu and I all got a bit of sleep on our last eight-hour flight and arrival in Entebbe, Uganda. On my last trip, my time at the Entebbe was challenging. It was their first day of new protocols which included getting tested for COVID and waiting nearly two hours before moving on. Testing was still required, but once we took our test and cleared customs, we were free to move on with the test results to be emailed to us. If we tested positive, we had to follow quarantine guidelines on our own. Stu got his results Thursday am. Josh got his on Friday am. As of now, I am still waiting on mine. Every time I cough more than once in a ½ hour time span, I wonder if I got the virus. It’s not worrisome, it just crosses my mind and I do some calculations about how that would impact my week and my return home. We probably made it out of the airport and to our sleeping accommodations in Entebbe in about 20% of the time it took me the trip in November. I got into my bed about 12:30 am and sought to sleep until our 6 am breakfast the next day. I didn’t mind the early call as I only slept from 2:30-5:00.  Our driver wanted to get on the road to avoid the morning rush hour. We ate our breakfast on a second-floor patio with fragrant flowers giving us a welcome early morning greeting. 

We hit the road early Thursday and found out it would be a warm one, as the expected high was in the mid 90’s and the AC in the vehicle was not operating. One stop included pork cooked over a charcoal fire on a stick (a favorite of our driver Stephen). Being the dry season, this meant that at about the five-hour mark, we saw about 40 baboons (I think-they were monkey like). They tend to congregate by the road along the Nile looking for handouts. They’re always fun to watch. We all had a nice case of the sweaty backs when we arrived at Abaanah’s hope, 40 minutes north of Gulu, a seven-hour affair including pit stops. We spent the rest of the day getting settled in and doing a little bit of study as Saturday is one of the most crucial days of our time here.

Friday we up on rest. I was in bed from 10-12 and 2-6, which is a nice sleep as the body is adjusting to time change and new surroundings. We spent a fair amount of the day studying, making sure we have a handle on the curriculum. We managed to play some basketball in the afternoon and we were all grateful for the cloud cover. The leaders at Abaanah’s hope to play more basketball next week. I hope we can avoid the day with 107 degree forecast. 

This trip we are focusing on how to understand and communicate prophetic books, working through various passages in Isaiah. I always feel a bit anxious if I can do well enough, but the feedback I have received would say don’t worry. I believe there is a lot at stake. Our goal is an abiding network of gospel centered, Bible saturated, African lead churches. We hope to see churches strengthened and started. 80% of the pastors in Africa have no formal training. If we can up the quality of their handling of Scripture, we can create a healthier church culture in Northern Uganda and the eight different people groups that make up this cohort. Please pray that we serve them well. 

Tomorrow (Saturday) things get serious as we meet with the six Lead Trainers who share the teaching load with us. I will spend the day with three of them, making sure they are adequately prepped for their teaching time. I will go through their lessons with them, give some suggested approaches and answer questions they have. These six are key in the African lead portion of our vision. That is because in January of 2023 they will start another cohort with all African teachers! This means the work will continue (God willing) for years after we finish this May, and they will continue to see the health of the church in Northern Uganda increase.

I went to bed at ten and woke up at 11 and decided to give this update. The picture was taken during our Thursday drive across country.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life