Uganda Trip 6

I am home and had my first night’s sleep on a night we turned the clocks back (hurray!). One of the many things I am grateful for is that I like what I am doing. I love going to Uganda and I love coming home. I had an extra good reason for coming home, because when I came back home not only was Carol home, but our oldest and his family.

The picture that accompanies this post, is one of our Lead Trainers, Pastor Bosco, teaching the last session from Ephesians and prepping the group for when we return in January. We will move onto the genre of prophecy, using the book of Isaiah. 

This is the end game of the ten trips that will have been taken by St. Croix Valley Lead Team pastors and Training Leaders International. Africans developing Africans. We are praying and laboring toward an abiding network of Gospel Centered, Bible Saturated, African led churches! Our Lead Trainers are showing signs they can move this initiative forward. Our materials are helpful for developing pastors that can understand and communicate God’s word faithfully.

Thank you for making this all possible. For the people who cover for me on Sundays when I am absent, for the prayers being offered before, during and after trips and the generosity that has funded these trips to Africa. I am very aware of the privileged position I get to play in this part of the process of making disciples far away. 

My body is tired, yet I am already looking forward to eight weeks from Tuesday, when I get to make my way back, God willing. With only three trips left, I can see a graduation in May in which leaders will be unleashed to start and strengthen churches in northern Uganda and South Sudan. Such a worthy cause as we follow a worthy Christ!

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

Our goal was to wrap up our teaching by 10 am on Friday. 8 – 9:20 was to finish up lesson nine.  Then a half hour was left for all to gather for lesson ten and close at 10:00. Lesson ten is basically giving the assignment between that day and January 10th, when we will gather again in 90+ degree weather to consider how to understand and communicate prophecy, focusing on Isaiah.

In my last post, I mentioned that Julius had a rough afternoon on his presentation on Thursday. When we walked into the classroom Friday, it was apparent he spent the night working. He had the whiteboard full of information and I could see he was ready to go! It was a solid improvement for him.

At 9:30 all three learning groups met in the Pastoral Training Center for our closing session which went well. We are seeing that Africans are now leading more than not and the goal of a movement lead by Africans seems increasingly likely. So encouraging…

After we dismissed (the trainees will stay five more days for “practical” pastoral training on topical matters-this time, marriage and family).  We met with the six Lead Trainers (who co-teach with us now) at the guest house in which we stay. We debriefed what went well for the week and what needs improvement. We asked for them to assess their performance and I took notes. We also asked for each of the three groups to start considering whom we/they can start grooming as future Lead Trainers-we want to multiply. They each gave three to five names. This is also encouraging. 

After closing in prayer, Peter, Alan Corbin (one of Four Corners’ staff) and I loaded the Land Rover and the six-and-a-half-hour ride to the area near the airport. Before we left, we were given hard copy certificates by Kris Mobbs saying we passed our COVID tests, so we would be allowed on the plane to Amsterdam. Part way there, Kris called and said the testing center said they gave us the wrong certificates and they were sending others electronically. He said an e-copy would not be a problem. When we sat down to eat dinner, I got the certificates (PDF) on my phone, and I opened them to Larry proof our experience at the Entebbe airport. 

We got to the airport, and it was chaotic. I was hoping that they would have straightened things out a bit since Peter and I arrived on day one of their new set up – no dice. We found a line to be allowed into the airport in which we had to show our passport, yellow fever shot certificate and a required hard copy of the certificate saying the COVID test was passed. I got a bit nervous and thought I would pull up my electronic PDF and hope that would suffice. It was comforting to see others were in the same boat.

As I was about fourth in line, I went to open the email and found out it was not Larry proof. I accidently deleted it. After a brief prayer (if you count “OH CRAP!” a prayer), I tried to find the file in my garbage, but to no avail. I turned to Peter and confessed my error and frantically worked my phone and proved there are few things in life that are truly Larry proof! After a few moments of fruitless efforts, Peter suggested we pull out the hard copies Kris said were invalid and take a shot. Now my prayers moved from “oh crap” to a more specific petition. By this time, I texted Kris and Alan to resend the document. I got to the front, handed the paperwork over, and it was stamped and approved and handed back to me. The same for Peter. 

With great relief we made it to the door, which had people with luggage carts going in and out the same door. It was like local traffic…I wanted to take over and bring some order. I wisely chose not to show my American preoccupation with efficiency.

Eventually we got checked in and headed to immigration to check out of Uganda. As Peter and I were third and fourth in line, people started cutting in front of us. They were heading to Qatar and there was a significant group apparently holding the plane up. After the first four or so cut in (with some official help from airport personal), I got involved. I turned and said “Qatar” loudly and raised my hand. A few more behind in line raised their hands and I invited them up front. I was reminded of something during this exercise. I was a bit put out when people cut in front of me, but I really enjoyed being the nice guy who let people in line. It reminds me of the saying I heard, “Everybody wants to be a servant till they are treated like one!”

While in line, I met a guy from Dallas who came to meet his online sweetheart for the first time. He got engaged and was heading back home to begin a year long process to bring her to the states, including a wedding.

We got through and it was time to come home! I slept over half the eight-hour flight to Amsterdam, which is a record for me. I write this from the Amsterdam airport. I hope I sleep more on the next leg to MSP as my son Zack, wife Angie and Son Jadon will be spending the night. I’d like to have some energy to enjoy them (after I shower). The picture is of a market we passed on the way to the airport.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

Thursday was a busy, yet life giving day. The teaching was shared by three teachers for our learning group. Sunday finished up lesson seven by the end of the first session (8-10 am). You can tell when it is almost ten o’clock as the trainees’ get a little bit antsy, looking to their first meal of the day. All five days their breakfast was the same; a large bowl of something Cream of Wheat like. I guess it’s not unusual for our trainees to miss meals and they have come to appreciate the well timed meals and their sizeable portions. 

I picked up teaching lesson eight at 10:45. My main tasks for the week was to help these pastors understand how to analyze the layout of a passage, a bit like our good old school days of diagraming sentences, only the sentences are longer. My other focus is helping them examine the details of a passage. This is probably the best time slot, as they are eager and at ease with something in their stomachs. I broke our fourteen students into three groups, and they were to make observations and report to the larger group. Most of them seem to be getting it, but Sunday and Julius encourage me to break the groups down to 2-3 in size, so our meeker students can’t hide. I do so in the next phase and see the fruit of this approach. More mistakes were made AND more growth occurred. I am quick to point out my mistakes as well as Sunday and Julius’, so they see it’s ok to struggle.

At 1 pm we took the one-hour lunch break. During this time the Americans meet and have leftovers from dinner the night before at the guest house and discuss what’s working and what’s not, and any adjustments that might be helpful. We are regularly monitoring one another so that we might synchronize the timing of our lessons, if possible. We also share blunders and victories as we seek to make this experience truly helpful. Things seem to be going quite well for all three groups. 

I go from the best time and continue my lesson in the most dreaded time slot-after lunch. My last hour of teaching is tough sledding as heads bobbed whenever I lectured for more than five minutes. It provided plenty of incentive to ask questions and keep as much group work going as possible. I finished the lesson at three and handed things over to Julius to finish the day at four.  This hour was his most challenging one that he taught to date. He knew it, the trainees knew it and when we closed, we spent a good amount of time debriefing and discussing how things got away from him. I offered suggestions and to how to move forward and he seemed to appreciate the input. We would see how this tutoring of this leader helped on Friday morning.

As I approached our guest house, I looked across the yard and saw Cooper Mobbs (Kris’s 6ft 3in son) putting his tennies on, as we arranged a basketball game at four. Kris loves basketball and few people both play and understand the game. He likes it when we come and tries to get in a few games. Today was the day. His other son, Chase, is 6 ft 1 in and is more of an artist than athlete. They are both really great kids. Cooper and I played Kris and Chase, games up to 21. They won the first and two more showed up. One a very short American teen, the other a decent sized Ugandan with a big smile who was not one of our trainees. We played on a cement pad and after a while the barefoot (that’s right, barefoot) Ugandan traded in playing in bare feet to sandals. We took the second game and we decided to play one more game to 11 for the world championship. Kris was feeling pretty good about this as his Atlanta Braves won the world series earlier in the week. But, alas, he fell short as my team won 11-6.

I showered and ate and after an hour of planning/studying we were in a Land Rover for the forty-minute drive in to Gulu. I was asked to be a guest on a weekly radio show that Kris and Four Corners hosts every week. He told me that he would ask about the training and what is taking place and a little bit about me. We would dialogue back and forth and end with call in questions from the audience. 

We pulled into Favour FM 104.1 with Kris, me, translator Benson and Eric, a Favour radio host who happens to be in my learning group. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, we were ushered into the quiet studio and lined up in front of five mikes: Kris, myself, the two translators and Eric. We started talking and the questions came in. They usually go an hour but we went 1:10. Everyone felt things went well and we made our way back to Four Corners, driving down asphalt and twenty minutes of dirt roads through the bush. I made it home and crashed. The picture is of me and translators, Sunday and Benson in the studio. Friday would be the last day of training and time to make our way back across the country to the airport.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

Today I will cover days two and three of teaching. We only teach five days, but what we do that’s most important is meeting with and equipping our Ugandan leaders on the front side. This part of the trip was severely impacted by our visa problems. After the chaos of our first couple of days, this feels really, really good. What we are moving toward is that our Acholi and Made friends will be carrying the load starting next fall toward the goal of a network of churches led by Africans. 

We are teaching skills related to understanding and communicating letters (also called epistles) from the New Testament. We are using the book of Ephesians but are only covering about half of the letter, because the emphasis is teaching skill that can then be employed to any epistle. Sunday, from the Acholi tribe, and Julius, and I have been working together since the first trip  here (this is trip #6)  and our relationship is developing nicely. They will each cover three lessons. We designed it so they would not teach more than one lesson a day.  Right after the lessons, I give feedback on what stood out both positive and negative, providing instant input and chances for growth. We have three groups that have two leaders each. It would be great if four of them are able to move forward in leading in the fall. So far this seems likely, and that is really encouraging. 

Sunday is a more natural teacher and Julius really excels at managing a classroom. I asked him if he was a teacher, and he said he was in the past. He gives a clear sense of where we are heading and how each step ties into the lesson as a whole. I can see the trainees respect them and there is a level of ease they have as leaders that I can’t share. That is why we are trying to create not only healthier pastors, but the type of leaders who can help other pastors. 

The trainees are highly engaged as they have had little to no formal training. The six of my fourteen guys in my group who have had some training clearly stick out. 

Wednesday, I had my fourth COVID test in eleven days. I’ve enclosed a picture of Peter who studied hard for his test. We hope for negative results (which are positive!) so we can get on a plane on Friday and back to Hudson.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

Monday morning was such a welcome sight because I would now see a bunch of men who have become friends and some of them my heroes. Take Omar Mohammed. A native of Khartoum, Sudan, he has fled from war four times and his parents were both killed in protests. Yet he finds his way here from the Adjumani refugee camp and hopes to plant a church in Sudan someday. I feel small compared to many here. 

My flesh was challenged before our first day of instruction. Our classrooms consist of two large, open air spaces (church sanctuary and Pastoral Training Center-PTC) and a small, enclosed classroom in the elementary school that is on site (the school currently meets with a partial group of rotating students due to COVID). My Lead Trainers (guys who I share the teaching load with and will be on their own next fall) secured the PTC for me…airy, two whiteboards, living large! Peter said he would take the classroom. When he went down to check it out, he saw an immediate problem. The cement block building would be a nightmare for his hearing aids. I was given the choice of the classroom or the sanctuary. Being the selfless saint that I am, I said I would take the classroom…providing I don’t have to in January when the high will be 95 instead of 80. Once the lawyers signed the agreement, I was ready to serve! 

Eight o’clock hit and the singing began. About fifteen minutes of singing was followed by a reminder of our mission and partnerships and some logistics and we broke up into our class sites. This is now the fifth time if worked with the same 14 guys. We have become comfortable with one another, and we enjoy a good laugh as we are giving them new tools to understand and communicate epistles through Ephesians. I’ve also learned who I can challenge in front of the group. Sunday, one of my two Lead Trainers, took lesson one as we are developing local leadership. I wondered how the group would do without me kicking things off. Sunday did great and we were off to a good start. Turns out I wasn’t missed at all! Our sessions include large and small group discussions, small group tasks in the Scripture and lecture. Many of these men have had little to no formal theological education and we are helpful for them as they seek to become more proficient in their craft. An added benefit is there are relationships that are developing on the way to our goal: 

An abiding network of 

Gospel centered 

Bible saturated 

African led churches. 

Peter says he can see it. I do too. It’s a real honor to be helping in this worthy kingdom task. Is it worth that hassles so far? Without a doubt! I am anxious to see what God does this week.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

It’s Saturday, we’re short one person (our leader, Mike Evans!) and we wake up for a 7 am breakfast and a ride across the country to get to Gulu. As we are eating omelets (not quite a Key’s event, but pretty good!) and sausage when we meet two women from Finland (turns out they don’t know any of Carol’s relatives). They are etymologists, who are in country to study butterflies. This was my first international etymologist experience-so memorable.

We checked out and hit the road a bit before eight. Peter sat in front so he could get a good look at life going on, as this is his first trip to Africa. Kris Mobbs and I filled him in on what to expect as we made our way to our new home and wanted to get the blow by blow of his e-visa experience in Amsterdam. It was good to know I would share the week with him. He got a kick out of how traffic operated in such a chaotic, yet ultimately safe manner. We drove by markets of people piled on top of each other, with many of the items for sale seem the same as the table next to them. 

He was excited to see the Nile, and the bridge we went over had significant rapids that I don’t think baby Moses’ basket would have ever survived. We also saw about eight baboons; a lot less than we are used to seeing near the bridge. 

We stopped about ½ way to get some spring rolls to go and once we reached Gulu, we stopped at a grocery store to stock up on some munchies (tell Carol vegetables!), and of course, Coke Zero. We drove out of town northeast and forty minutes later we were at home at last. 

We unpacked, verified the schedule we made for Sunday and had a meat lover’s pizza that Peter and I were happy to allow into our home for the week. 

We’re finally in place to start focusing on the reason why we came: to equip pastors toward a gospel centered, Bible saturated, Africa lead movement. After church tomorrow, we will meet with the trainers we share teaching duties with and who will carry on the teaching a year from now when we stop coming. We will be handing the keys to them in May, and we are sharing the load and training them for the role for the week. Fortunately, we determined to have a Zoom meeting two weeks ago, so they are further ahead than they usually are for our first sit down

Meeting. But now, we are behind. Everyone seems ready to go for it. We’ll find out.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

I woke up today (Thursday) to Kris working his phone and his “guy” trying to find a way to get Peter and Mike to Entebbe today. There is one flight a day from Amsterdam (where Mike and Peter are) and Entebbe (where Kris and I are) and our hope is that we can get the e-visa thing cleared up and get them here so we can get to Gulu and get to work! Turns out, that since COVID the flight is only every other day. We made the decision that we will wait till Friday and if they can’t make it, we drive cross country and go into full scramble mode. It will be lonely for me in the Guest House in Gulu by myself, but I will make the best of it—and probably bother some of the residents nearby! The good news is that they expected my luggage to be on the flight from Amsterdam.

This gives us another day to get the e-visa straightened out. Kris gave the guy some instructions, some money to pay any bills or fines and gave the instructions to “get it done”. I started studying where we were staying and caught up on email. Kris took his vehicle into a place to get some work done. After successfully getting it fixed, we went to the mall so I could get some deodorant and a toothbrush, having decided I can make it in the same clothes another day (that would make it roughly 96 hours with the same clothes on-may have to burn the clothes afterwards!). Fortunately, the spaces have not been over eighty degrees and I do have access to a shower.

Friday is D-day. When we woke up Kris checked on the status. Neither of them had their visa yet. Mike and Peter decided that 9:30 was the deadline on their end. If the visas came through, great. If not, they had booked flights back to MSP at almost the same time as the one to Entebbe. Fortunately, all the TLI flights have trip insurance, so Mike was free to take this approach. It was about 7:45. Texts and phone calls between Mike, the guy and Kris flew back and forth. Kris looked like a general manager on draft day, telling the guy to yell if he must. The problem was the Uganda’s system shut down regularly, so your timing must be just right. I had proven you can purchase a visa once you land, but KLM would have none of it. Nine O’clock came and nothing. The guy said it was not looking good.

It was while I was studying, that I ran into one of the often-repeated phrases from our teaching: that God is sovereign, wise and good. I had a faith decision to make. Either God is sovereign, wise and good (in all things including airlines) or he isn’t. I chose to trust Him and settle my occasional burst of anxiety. 

At 9:20, the text said that Peter had his visa and his baggage (with two of the four totes containing our materials) would be with him. We figured Mike was next in line and we would live happily every after. Turns out, that 9:30 came and went and Mike informed us he was heading for the plane going to MSP. God is still sovereign, wise and good. Now we have a thirteen hour wait till the plane arrives and Peter, who’s never been to Uganda, gets to encounter the mess that I had two days earlier at the Entebbe airport.

The place we were staying at had no vacancies for Friday, so we had to find another place. I took a few hours and wrote two of my previous posts. We went out for lunch and Kris and I started making up a plan for the week ahead without Mike, who is the one we all look to for direction on the curriculum and any adjustments that had to be made. We continued our housing search and found a place closer to the airport. We vegged out. I did some more reading and studying in my new role as the trip leader. I’m not sure TLI, the organization who leads these trips, have had one without one of their staff before. I got a nap in, knowing it would be a late night, with Peter landing at 10:30, getting tested for COVID, going through immigration, picking up the two totes with materials and waiting for his test results before we could take him to our place for the night. 

Ten o’clock came and we headed for the airport. Kris and I went to a place where we could see Peter before he headed up to wait for his results. We thought this would be comforting for him. As we were waiting, it crossed my mind they might let me into the baggage carousel area so I could get my bag. I explained my situation to the first military person I encountered who let me in. When I got to the second person, he took me to a place in the corner and showed a intercom device to call the baggage reclamation folk. He showed me how to push the button and put my ear to the device so I could hear.

I pushed the button, put my ear by the device and nothing. I tried again, same result. I called the man over. I tried it in his presence, and I got an answer. They told me to wait a ½ hour and try again. By this time, the plane had landed, and the carousel started turning. I could see this all from where I was stationed by the device.

Kris and I were joined by a man from Switzerland who was having the same challenge. I taught him to make a call. He received a similarly uninspiring response. We started chatting. He comes to Africa to deal with minerals. When I asked which ones, he said gold. I resisted the temptation to ask for a sample! He said Entebbe was a safer place to land than where he was going. The wait continued and I saw some yellow totes on the carousel. I think I counted seven and hoped two of them were ours. During this time, Peter was in line (a line that regularly changed to his disadvantage) to get tested. He finally got swabbed about an hour and fifteen minutes after landing

Eventually, Peter made his way out the door with someone pushing a cart with two totes and his bag. The first words out of his mouth were “Praise God!”. I introduced him to Kris and I told him what to expect and where to meet us when he was eventually released. Peter left for his wait, escorted by Kris from across a divider. When Kris went as far as he could, he went back to the vehicle to take a nap while I waited for my bag. Every time someone official looking walked through the door, I tried to flag them down for assistance. About twenty minutes later, someone heard my plea and went back to look for me. The guy from Switzerland got his bag and wished me luck. About ten minutes later I saw my bag being rolled in my direction. I signed off to receive it and made my way back to Kris in the vehicle. When I found him, I asked him to take a picture of my bag and me reunited (and it felt so good!). We stacked it in with the totes and continued to wait for Peter. 

There was a long cement runway that people who were cleared for COVID walked down, and we could see it fairly well. What we discovered is that there were a lot of short, gray haired white men getting tested. Every time I saw one, I jumped out of the vehicle, and walked to the exit only to be disappointed by another gray-haired white man. After about fifteen or so, it was Peter. He jumped in and we made the short drive to our place for the night. We got back at around two in the morning, a four-hour affair! We planned to meet at 7 am for breakfast and drive cross country to Gulu.

I have made four posts, written over six thousand words and have yet to make it to our destination! God is sovereign, wise and good.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

After an eight our flight to Rwanda, sitting in the plane for an hour while a few people joined us for the 38-minute trip to Entebbe, I finally arrived at the destination. My first hope was to find wi-fi, get a hold of Kris and ask since I already had a visa (stamped, by the way) what should I do? If they see I already have one that has been stamped, would I get in trouble? I was the only one making the trip, so I felt it important to get through.

I have been to this airport so many times, I knew the drill. Before approaching immigration, I had to show a passport, a health questionnaire and proof of a yellow fever vaccination. Then I walked to a booth to have my visa stamped-at least last time I did. Instead, we were directed outside into an area with large tents. I had to get tested, again! I was third in line in front of a booth. After about 10-15 minutes, I walked in and got another swab up the nose (Ugandan tests have been rather invasive). I was told to go through customs, pick up my bags (which were still in Amsterdam) and go to another space, pay for my test ($35), and wait my test results before being let out of the airport and to Kris Mobbs who was waiting to pick me up. I was told it would take an hour.

Next was going through immigration. I was not sure how this was going to go given my visa situation. I walked up to the in-person visa purchase (as opposed to e-visa) line and the man asked for my passport. I was the only one in line and he was really chatty, wondering about how much money Americans make and a number of other small talk items. He didn’t express any concern toward me-to my relief. I asked if my friends showed up the next day if they would be able to purchase visas on site. He said no problem. 

I skipped the baggage area, as I had none to pick up, and proceeded outside, where Kris is usually waiting to pick us up. We chatted a bit, but I was hurried to the waiting area for my test. They told us where we could meet once I was cleared. I walked up a long ramp and to a large, newer hall. I was to pay for the test. Step one, go to a money exchange place to get schillings for dollars. Next get in a line to pay for the test. Then wait.

I tried to get some wi-fi to keep Mike, Peter and Kris apprised as to what was going on. The network and password were prominently displayed but not functioning. I found a seat. I walked around the rather large hall for a while. How things unfolded is that a person would come up to the hall, grab a microphone and start reading names of people to pick up their results. Between the accent of the reader (it was in English), the unfamiliar names and the echoing of his voice off the walls, it was difficult to understand. The photo for this blog is of test results being handed out in the airport).

We were then told that we should expect a 1.5 to 2 hour wait. It was around this time that I found out that this was the first day of testing (lucky me). They were figuring things out as they went along. People were clearly agitated at the inefficiency, with some of them yelling at the workers. 

I struck up a conversation with a lady from Uganda who just got back from six weeks in England. She asked me what I was doing in Uganda, and I told her about our training as well as the mercy ministries that took place where the Pastoral Training Center is held. She was very impressed.  Her 90-year-old father died right before she left for Europe, and she was struggling with the brief grieving period. She had a heavy heart. After asking a series of questions I asked if she would be comfortable with me praying for her right there in the hall. She quickly said yes and I prayed for her before I moved to a different spot (where it was apparent wi-fi was working). I let Kris know what was going on via text and continued to wait. 

I got to wi-fi and updated my friends. I am now waiting when the lady I prayed came up to me and showed me a $100 bill that she would like to be passed along to help the poor in the Gulu area. She then showed me a picture of her father on a Ugandan business glossy magazine cover .He barely looked seventy and he looked like a vibrant leader. I told her I would see that the money would go in her desired direction. She then asked for my contact info as they would be starting a foundation in her father’s name and she’d like to see that more money came our way (our meaning Uganda, not Hudson).

Groups of names continued to be read, and I did not hear my name. After waiting a bit more, I remembered that I was supposed to file a missing luggage report for my bag that never left Amsterdam. I made my way to the exit when I was stopped by a soldier. As I was explaining my need to go back into the terminal, I heard my name called out. The test was negative, which is positive. Armed with my documentation for freedom, I went back to the entrance explaining myself four different times as I made my way bag to the baggage handling area. After about 20 minutes of filling out the report, I went back toward the testing site, walked past it and found Kris. Thirty-three hours from arriving at MSP I was firmly and legally in Uganda-without Mike and Peter. This was 2 am local time on Thursday. We still had to figure out what we were going to do with Mike and Peter, and the four totes. Time to get a shower and some sleep as I had probably slept two hours in that time frame.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

I am sitting at a delightful (since the power and hot water came on an hour ago!) guest house in Entebbe, Uganda. It is sunny, about eighty degrees and I am in a small restaurant about 75 feet from my room in the shade and a nice breeze. It is a welcome reprieve from the craziness I have experienced until now. The photo for this blog is the view from where I am writing.

Let me pick it up from where I left off for post #1 at the Amsterdam airport. 

We arrived with about three hours for a layover. It goes quickly but we are now so familiar with this airport that we know our way around well. After deplaning and taking care of our necessary biological functions, we headed toward a KLM Airline (Delta’s partner in Europe) counter for our flight to check on the visa situation. We were told in no uncertain terms that we were not going to be able to get on the plane. Uh-oh. We explained that in all our previous trips we could and had gotten visas both online and in person, as recently as August. This means they could not pull the old but we’re in COVID time now, because we had already gotten in person visas during the pandemic. They were not impressed. We asked for a “higher up” to appeal to and they sent us to T-6 (one of the transfer stations) where several KLM people worked navigating challenges for travelers. 

We spoke to a woman (seriously long eyelashes-no, not natural!) who heard our case and proceeded to consult her computer. She shook her head and told us to go fill one out online. 

What I should disclose now is that Peter, Mike and I had all tried and failed to do so online, encountering different problems. I also know from experience that when you apply, the process takes 24-72 to complete so that’s not helpful. I also know that you can simply show up at the Entebbe airport and get one during COVID, which Mike has. We checked with Kris Mobbs, our partner in Gulu who told us not to worry, that yes, you can get a visa in Entebbe. So, filling one online would be a waste of time. 

I texted Kris and told him our dilemma as we headed back to our gate. He did a Face Time audio call and we filled him in. He said he “had a guy” and he’d get back to us. We were seated now in a waiting area and Peter suggested we pray. For the record, I had been praying regularly, but we had not prayed together about this. So, we paused and when we finished, a private jet picked us up and flew us the rest of the way! Not really. We started discussing alternative plans should Kris’ “guy” could not come through. We realized we might need to simply turn around and come back. We could get stuck in Amsterdam till our return flight came through (not a bad place to get stuck) on Nov 6. We could not apply for an online visa and wait a few days because it didn’t work and still probably get there for our teaching assignment.

Kris called back after talking to his guy and a colleague. Since we (Mike and I) had been to Gulu the last week of August and first week of September, our visas were still valid. I got on my computer and found my e-visa I could use this to get through to Entebbe. Mike did not have one because he got a hard copy last trip (proving you could buy one in Entebbe during COVID). Kris’ guy said we were out of luck on the e-visa for today. We decided that I would try to get on the plane and that Mike and Peter would stay behind and scramble.

By the time I got up to the counter, the waiting area was about 85% empty. I presented my documents (passport, COVID test) and held the e-visa on my phone. She started looking up my name and couldn’t find it. Turns out that based on previous conversations they assumed (because we didn’t have visas) we were not going, so they removed us from the trip and pulled our baggage out. I told her we never gave permission to be removed and that I would like to go on to Entebbe. She both agreed and was a bit anxious.  She started working the computer. A few minutes later, two other agents were looking over her shoulder with intrigue. By this time the waiting area was virtually empty. She placed a phone call and while she did, an agent let a straggler in the door leading to the plane and closed it. I know what that is supposed to mean. I informed her that I wanted to get on and the agent on the phone gave her the “hold on” look (not sure there is an emoji for this!). She hung up and a supervisor soon joined the onlookers. She was confused by my visa, but it was good till almost the end of November. She kept looking back and forth between e-visa and passport and eventually handed it all back to me and said follow me and was walking briskly toward the plane. I asked her what would happen to my bag, and she said it would not make the trip and to fill out a report in Entebbe and that is was my friend’s fault (way to go Mike and Peter!). Sounds like the blaming that began in the garden has in fact gone global. I thanked her for her efforts as I walked on to the plane. To think of someone else for a moment, I’m sure it was very stressful for her. Now back to ME!

Everyone else was seated and ready to go. I was THAT guy who held up the flight. I went to my seat, and it was occupied. I showed my ticket to the occupant, and he showed me an identical one. It must have been given to him after I had been removed earlier. I turned and saw an empty seat nearby (good), with an empty seat next to it (better!) and sat down. About two more minutes passed with the pilot welcoming us blah, blah, blah. Then a flight attendant called my name. I was getting ready to do the perp walk for holding up the flight and a confusing visa. She came to me and told me that they had a seat for in comfort plus, which for an 8+ hour flight sounded awfully good. I told her I’d rather have an empty seat next to me than the extra leg room. She walked up to the nicer section, shooed another passenger away (the nerve of not sitting in the right seat!), and motioned me forward. I was placed in a four seat row, with me in seat one and another in seat four (best!). The extra leg room, and as I discovered, the greater reclining angle was appreciated after such a crazy day. I finished a book, watched a movie, started two and stopped and tried to sleep and got about a ½ hour in. 

All this has taken place in about 25 hours…tomorrow I will tell you about what happened when I got to Entebbe. Nothing was normal! I will post again tomorrow.

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life

And the Journey Begins (this first post is a long one)!

It’s an hour and a half before take-off from MSP and already I have had quite an experience. It started when I was home packing and tried to access my work files on my iPad, so I could leave my laptop at home. It wasn’t working-that is, they weren’t syncing with each other. So, I called our computer assistance people for trouble shooting but the clock was running as it was two hours before leaving from home to MSP. They said they would have someone call me to fix the problem. They did call-the church office (I was home) and by the time I received the voice mail forwarded via email and I returned it, the “expert” was not available. They said they’d get back to me. When I got twenty minutes from leaving home, I called again, and someone said they could help. We started the process of trouble shooting. Fifteen minutes later, our ride to the airport backed into my driveway, as one of our other trainers (Peter Bergeson-a retired pastor living in New Richmond) and his wife pulled in front of the house. I gave the computer dude a five-minute warning as a dump truck pulled in front of my house. The driver got out and started tossing the 30% or so remaining stumps that were pulled from our lot from the original twelve (plus neighbors), the fallout of the recent Hudson storm. I told the computer guy I would endure my first world challenge of having to take the computer rather than my iPad and thanked him for his efforts.

I hurried outside and greeted the kind neighbor with a dump truck and told him what was going on with the others hanging out in the driveway. He said that was no problem, told me he would be praying for my trip and I turned my attention to Jim Dopkins (driver to MSP), Peter and his wife Gail, who were finishing up loading Jim’s truck not only with our luggage, but four large totes consisting of materials for our trainings, Christmas presents on behalf of the missionaries there, and items related to making jewelry that happens at the site we stay and teach at. 

Jim being a full-service transporter, had water bottles for us and started the checklist. Passport, check. Masks—I ran back in the house to grab one (I had some in my bag-not much help there). He continued the check list as we made our way to 94. We picked up Mike Evans on the way (he lives about three miles south of 3M) and made our way to the airport for me to take a one-hour PCR test for COVID.

A little background regarding COVID tests. In our last two trips, we would go to the local clinic, get tested the day before the trip and have the results in forty minutes or so. They no longer offer that test, so we had to go elsewhere to get the required test. Mike did a saliva test in MN, Peter and I got the nasal swab in (he in Stillwater and I was in River Falls). This all happened Sunday between noon and 1 pm. The challenge—the test had to be less than three days from take-off (MSP and Amsterdam), yet we were told that the tests get sent at the end of the day (remember Sunday) and the results come in 2-3 days (take off from MSP 5:30 pm). It would likely come earlier, but we could be very confident in 2-3 days. I didn’t like the math-could we get the tests and results back in the time allotted? These tests are free. 

There are also one hour PCR tests available at MSP for $200 (not feelin that!). We all scheduled at 2:15 test at MSP Tuesday, which we could cancel for a 10% fee. We felt a $20 insurance policy was worth it. Turns out Mike and Peter’S results came back Monday, but yours truly was checking his email on the way to MSP.

We got to the airport and the excitement continued. My test prep email told us to go to the gold ramp for the test. When we pulled in the parking area, there was a lane for COVID testing that we went in…turns out it was for employees and led us to the wrong ramp. We exited the ramp, and after my three credit cards were rejected, we found out there was no charge in our lane. We did a lap around the ramp, found the gold ramp, the third level and I got out of the truck to get after the test (it was now 2:20). I hurried to the line with my confirmation email open on my phone. When I got to the front of the line, I reached for my wallet for the picture ID, only to have an empty pocket. I remember having taken it out for the credit cards to get out of the first ramp and I sprinted (at Larry speed) to the ramp and thankfully Jim was still there unloading the truck and placing our small mountain of goods on a cart. I breathed a sigh of relief only to open the truck and not see my wallet. Jim went into detective mode, putting the light on his phone on and searching under the seat and floor-no wallet. I asked Peter and Mike to join me in looking between the truck and the test line and they were off. I looked under the truck by the door and about two minutes into our search I found it in the door handle area of my door. I sprinted back (again, at Larry speed) to the line and when I got back to the front (not long), I proudly took out my wallet and my license was not there! I had cashed a check earlier in the day and had to use it for ID and left it in my car (which is currently parked in Eugene, OR if there are any crooks reading this!). Fortunately, I had my passport with me. I checked the email one last time and took out my credit card and shelled out the $200 for the test. It was quick and non-invasive. 

I found Peter and Mike and we made our way to check in with Delta. When we got there, I could not check in as I did not have a negative test. I went to the counter anyway, and Mike and Peter ran into a little problem, which was one I would run into as well. We were required to have an e-visa. The e-visa setup was not working with Uganda, and all three of us could not complete the process. This was not a problem for us, as Mike was able to get a visa at the Entebbe airport as recently as August, during the COVID pandemic. We had gotten visas at the airport in Uganda before-no problem. This WAS a problem for Delta. They said they could not let us on the planes without them. We assured them we would be fine, and the agent got on the phone and talked and waited and talked and waited. 

He said we were given provisional permission to continue to Amsterdam, but we may run into the same issue there. Peter and Mike got tickets, put their luggage (including totes) through and the three of us moved away from the counter waiting for my results which blessedly came through about twenty minutes later. I went to the counter where the agent reminded me, I only had provisional approval. We made it to the gate, the plane and were off to Amsterdam.

The days before the trip had been hectic for me. I spent a good portion of Friday doing follow up work from the storm that hit our house. Saturday, we had our first ever Fall FaithWorks (which was a blast and we had perfect weather!), the usual Sunday madness and Monday evening I led our Annual Hospitality Training. The start of the trip was crazy as well and I was really glad to get settle into my seat (empty seat next to me-nice for a 8+ hour flight), and start focusing on the work to come, going to work with friends from WI to meet with friends  we have been developing over our trips to the Gulu area over the past 2+ years. So much for day one!

Larry Szyman

Pastor for Missional Life