When traveling in the Developing world it's best to expect the unexpected and be flexible… and so we got off to an exciting start. Once we arrived in Uganda we were scheduled to take a MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) Cessna plane to Lira in Central Uganda. While waiting for our Lira flight, we overheard our pilot call down to the hanger asking for "duct tape", we hoped that was not to repair our plane. As we walked toward the runway a small plane crashed, spun around and broke off it's landing gear (it was not an MAF plane, and thankfully no one was hurt). The Ugandan fire/rescue crew came out (basically a bunch of guys ran out to the runway and carried the plane back to a hanger). I'm sure the Ugandan FAA crash investigation is ongoing…
After arriving in Lira we travelled around to visit villages and schools to see Lifewater's projects in various stages. At our first stop we were able to see first-hand the un-safe water sources that are often used by Ugandan's who have no access to clean water. These women collect water out of murky mud puddles and swampy areas, and do not filter or boil the water before use.
Once Lifewater identifies a community to serve, they use local Ugandans to drill the well through their partnership with Divine Waters Uganda. After drilling is complete, a cement foundation is laid and poured, and the well is installed. We observed the drilling operation of one well site, and also the foundation forms being created at another well site. Lifewater seeks to empower local Ugandan's with the skills and material to perform the labor in this process. This gives them a vested interest in the successful outcome, and trains them with valuable skills for well installation and maintenance.
Here's a finished project; a hand-pump well, including a bamboo fence to keep the animals out. This particular well was significant to me for several reasons, so it was very rewarding for me to visit. It serves a community of 400 people who use this water point 2 times a day to collect and use clean water for their families. Using this clean, reliable water source, they are able to avoid water born illnesses, and reduce childhood mortality rates. Children are able to attend the local schools since they no longer need to travel long distances to reach water sources that are sometimes miles away. Clean water is also a gateway to sharing the Gospel of Christ who offers Living water for our souls, so that we might not thirst again.
Sometimes sarcasm is lost in translation. I asked a local Divine Water's staff "Is that a Ugandan Bus?", she replied "no, no that's just a truck with Ugandan men going to market."
Ugandan roads around Lira are dusty, and rough often filled with pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, trucks and cars, animals (and monkeys) all vying for the same narrow space. Our Ugandan driver stayed in control even while driving 70 miles an hour on dirt roads, always avoiding head-on collisions with ease. Our vehicle did break down once, but our generous Divine Water's hosts transferred us to another vehicle, while they rode in the damaged vehicle back to town.
Most rural villagers live in these hand made grass and mud huts, and are subsistence farmers, growing their crops for their own use and for sale at the local markets.
What a joy to see the happy children attending school in very sparse conditions, just simple school rooms with no electricity, natural lighting from the open windows, and basic benches on dirt floors. Lifewater has provided water wells and latrines at these schools so that children can get educated in a safe and healthy environment.
If you know me, you know that no trip would be complete without the involvement of a bicycle. The Ugandan's use almost exclusively the "Roadmaster" single speed bike for all bicycle transportation needs. In fact the Roadmaster motto is "Any Road, Any Load" (look it up on google), and the Ugandans live this out completely. We saw bikes loaded with dead chickens going to market, unbelievably wide loads of construction materials, and enormous bundles of produce. I got to test ride one of these at a school we visited, riding around the schoolyard the little kids all laughed and pointed at me… not sure why.
No missionary trip would be complete without "sampling the local cuisine". Here's a bowl full of fried grasshoppers that we all tried. They were salty and crunchy, and actually pretty good.
Like I mentioned earlier, that water well we visited was significant for several reasons. Another reason is related to Shelly, my late wife. When we married in 2004 I had been giving financially to Lifewater for several years. Early in our marriage she became very passionate about the Lifewater ministry, and over the years urged us to increase our monthly commitment. This was a cause that she was passionate about and could get behind. When Shelly died in 2013 of breast cancer, I asked that any donations at the memorial service be made to Lifewater, her favorite non-profit organization. With donations from Shelly's memorial service, and some additional giving, the well that we visited in Uganda was able to be built in honor of Shelly. What a great memorial for those who loved her, and what a blessing for the Ugandan community.
Darrell
p.s.
Before returning to the US, we also were able to go on a Safari to see God's great creation in the natural world.