Uganda Trip #14 | Post 4

I woke up this morning refreshed in a way I haven’t felt for months. My regular sleeping habits are not that good. It is not unusual for me to wake up at three or four in the morning (I usually fall asleep around 10:30) and start my day, doing tasks that are quiet that I can do by myself. If things go well, I catch a 15–30-minute nap before seven, when I am more likely to engage the real world. I seldom drag myself out of bed grumbling and I seldom feel refreshed. I simply wake up and start operating. That’s the upside…I not only have overcome jet lag, I feel good.

The downside is today we will drive across the country and have two-nine-hour flights before, God willing, landing at MSP, coming home and start the battle of reversing the challenge of a body that just adjusted to Ugandan time. I don’t regret these matters at all, but they are part of the challenge of this work. All worth it.

I want to close with two items. My hope for the African church and my gratitude to you.

I sent two pictures for this post as I currently sit in the Entebbe Airport, hoping this will go out before the end of your Friday workday.

The first is our regular end of the week recap meeting between Mike, Stu and me and nine Lead Trainers who come from Uganda, South Sudan and Congo. They have set themselves apart and are part of the current teaching team. Six of them assist with the three of us, each taking two sessions for our three small groups. Next week the others will teach the same material that we just finished to a second cohort of current and aspiring pastors. The other cohort with be Africans teaching Africans, a crucial step in our vision of

An abiding network
Of Gospel centered
Bible saturated
African lead churches

They are displaying the skills and attitudes necessary to continue the training for years to come. The vision is becoming reality. They are eager to take the lead, and they show themselves capable. With only one trip left for us in September for the last unit (Revelation!) and graduation, this has been a most gratifying exercise.

None of this would have occurred without the generosity of our little network of churches in Somerset, New Richmond, Baldwin, River Falls and of course, FCC Hudson. Many of you may not remember or have been around when all our churches met at Lakefront Park and had a service called Vision for the Valley 2. We took an offering that has covered all our expenses for these trips. This includes us creating a healthy library for each of the Lead Trainers (The second picture is two of the Lead Trainers who received books purchased by the giving, as well as gifts from a publishing house). Thank you. The church in Africa is already benefitting, and by God’s grace, will continue to do so.

One last trip in September with be my 20th trip to Uganda. There is a sense in which I have had enough, and a sense in which I could continue this forever. I thank God for you, Faith Community, for your partnership and many kindnesses to me.

Larry Szyman

Pastoral Associate