Uganda Trip

Our Trip to Uganda, Africa

By Dr. Rolando Regino

 

Entebbe and Lake Victoria

Our 18-hour plane flight from California with overnight stay in Dubai continued with a 5 ½ hour flight to Uganda, where we reached Entebbe early in the morning as the sun broke.  We could see the beautiful mango trees from the plane as well as dense forest dotted with Tukels (African Huts) as we approached the main town.  Entebbe airport shares its space adjacent to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in the continent, which actually looks like a small ocean both from the sky and when you land.  It’s that big!  We were tired and would be leaving the next day after another overnighter, this time in Entebbe, but not before we grabbed some food and visited the lake, where we found a small crowd of friendly Ugandan children who didn’t stop smiling and took way too many photos with us.  Early the next day, we took the flight out of Entebbe and finally reach the airport in Arua, about half way up the country, only to be followed by about a 3-hour van ride to our final destination, Midigo, in Northern Uganda, where one of the Promise Child Ministries were located.

Promise Child, Midigo

The Promise Child compound for local staff and visitors was clean with well-kept lawns and shrubbery, as well as modern facilities (as modern as can be in Uganda).  As soon as we arrived, we were given a tour of the compound, our tukel (hut) where we would bunk for the next 5 days, and the cafeteria, where we would eat 3 meals a day, served by our chef, Denis, who was specifically hired for us.  He was not only very courteous, but professional in his serving and presentation of the food.  We felt privileged and honored that the Lord provided such good facilities and care for our stay.

Orphanage and School

One of the first things we saw in Midigo was the orphanage and school in which the Promise Child children both lived and studied, which was adjacent to the compound where we stayed.  The school was also open to local families, mostly Muslim, where they could drop their children off to be educated.  Aside from studying the basics of English and science, as well as other disciplines, the children are being taught about Jesus and the Christian faith.  We were told that the Muslim parents did not mind this because their children were treated well and were given a high-quality education.  The Ugandan government does not provide education for its citizens’ children, so families are left on their own to find and pay for private schools nearby where they live. The day we visited the school there were many parents visiting with their children since it was a break time from studies when parents were told how well their students were doing.  Everyone seemed happy and respectful to us visitors from the U.S. You could tell that they probably don’t see many westerners in that village, so all eyes were fixated on us as we toured the campus.  We felt the Lord’s blessing on this community as so many are given an opportunity to learn both basic education and about the bible.

Medical Outreach (Midigo Hospital)

Later, we toured the hospital where Promise Child rescues sick children, many from the refugee camps, and cares for them until they get better.  We were told that as many as 50 children are cared for at a time, and as we entered the facility, you could sense the somber atmosphere since many of these children were acutely ill.  Our team knew that this was a good time to minister to the children, so we prayed for them and their relatives, who were personally attending to the children when we were there.  There are only a few nurses that care for so many children and doctors’ visits are not that frequent.  Medical care is a vital need in this part of the country and ministry opportunities are in abundance for those with a medical background.

Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp

When we arrived at Bidi Bidi refugee camp, which is one of the largest camps in the area, we were told that the South Sudanese border was only about 20 miles north of where we were.  Vicious fighting has caused the people to leave their homes or be slaughtered, so with whatever they could carry, many fled into Northern Uganda, where most of the refugees can be found.  This was definitely the “Frontline” where our efforts to bring the love and care of Jesus Christ to these people during this turmoil were greatly needed.  We split into small teams of 3 or 4, including translators and walked around the camp, meeting people as they came out of their tents (made mostly of material given by the United Nations Higher Commission on Refugees – UNHCR).  We spoke with many and noticed that the majority were women (some pregnant) and children, and we heard stories of devastation and loss, of missing family members, and of nightmares, so that many refugees, although safe from the current catastrophe, could not get a good night’s sleep.  So many did not have clean water or much food to eat despite the relief efforts.  It was heartbreaking, but also hopeful.  We prayed with them and told them about the good news of Jesus and the hope that He brings to them and their families.  When we held a “community tent meeting,” we preached the gospel to a large crowd where just about every hand was raised in order to receive the Lord.  Even one lady named Margaret, to whom we had preached the gospel to earlier, stood up and gave her testimony that God revived her spirit and told her that she needed to be a “model” follower of Jesus, one whom others in the community could follow.  For sure, a number had already received salvation prior to our arrival, but our hope was that if God could gather them together as a community to seek the Lord, this would strengthen their faith during these hard times.  Near the end of our visit, we handed out snacks to the children and several small electronic bibles to groups of believers so that they could gather together when we were gone so that they could hear the word and fellowship together.  As we left, we were comforted and confident that the local pastors, especially from Calvary Chapel Yumbe (a small adjacent town), would do their best to care for the church in Bidi Bidi refugee camp.  They are currently praying that the Lord would supply a vehicle for them to use to do the ministry there at the camp.

Calvary Chapel Kubala

One of the other churches that we visited before we left, on the way back to Entebbe, was Calvary Chapel Kubala.  Pastor John, the lead pastor who was originally from Midigo, was excited to see us and Pastor Brent.  Pastor John was so elated to show us what he had done with the money that was donated to them from donors in the U.S.  Because the value of the dollar had increased over a period of time, he was able to save money to purchase what looked like almost 4-5 acres of additional property adjacent to the church property that was already established.  We were impressed that he had been a good steward of the Lord’s resources and was looking to build additional buildings, as the church was certain to grow.  Amidst a predominantly Catholic and Muslim community, Calvary Chapel Kubala continues to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in a persistent and unwavering fashion.  One convert that we met was a young man who also was responsible for designing the current church building.  He was an unsaved Catholic prior to his conversion by the church in Kubala.  Now, he not only leads worship for the church, but he also has decided for next year to attend the Calvary Chapel bible school in Seroti, a city on the East side of Uganda.  While we worshipped with the saints in Kubala, another young man who is a teacher and who had recently been saved, brought his father, a muslim, to the meeting.  After sharing a message to the church, Pastor Brent asked the man if he wanted to accept the Lord and prayed with him.  He prayed, and we all celebrated that one more soul for Jesus was won amid religious darkness!  We left Kubala refreshed and full of praise at what the Lord is doing in that area of Uganda!

Calvary Chapel Arua, Boys’ Home, Girls’ Shelter

Our last ministry visit was to Calvary Chapel Arua which had a boys’ home as well as a girls’ shelter.  Upon our arrival, Pastor David, the senior pastor there, took us on a tour of the church property which was adjacent to the boys’ home.  The property was at least several acres including the church building, boys home, and fish pond.  Recently, the church bought the property next door for future expansion which adds about another acre to the total church property.  Currently, the church is meeting in an old small building on the property, which hardly houses the growing congregation.  The new church building is being constructed, but building has stopped because there is no more money to finish the project.  The church needs additional gifts to finish the rest of the building, including the roof, the children’s rooms, and offices.  They need our prayers and support to complete the building as the church continues to grow.

The visit to the boys’ home was inspiring.  The twelve high school age young men are focused on completing their studies and have high aspirations.  One of them even mentioned that he wanted to become Uganda’s President!  We had a great time singing worship songs together in English and in Swahili and fellowshipping with them on how they came to the boys’ home in Arua.  Despite the hardship of growing up without steady parental influence in their lives, God called these young men just for Him.  His sovereignty brought each of them in contact with Calvary Chapel in Arua, and eventually to live in the boys’ home.  Eric, their young pastor, watches over them like a father and lives in a small room on the property adjacent to the home.  He had no experience, but several years ago came into this ministry because God called him.  He told us he is their dad.  We were touched by his love and commitment to all these young men under his care.

Our last ministry experience was to the girls’ shelter which was about a mile or so from the church.  There we met Sandra, an older sister who was in charge of the girls.  We asked each of the girls to tell us their story and how they came to the shelter.  One of them had a baby in her arms.  Each of their stories had a common thread:  because they didn’t have the money to pay for school fees they resorted to a life on the streets and many times in abusive relationships and prostitution.  Then, at one point, they heard the gospel that was preached by the church and decided to give up their old lives and give their new lives to the Lord, but they also needed practical help to get back on their feet, so there at the shelter they are trained in two vocational areas:  hair styling and becoming a seamstress.  In due time, they will graduate and start their own businesses in these areas.  As they were telling their stories, the Lord touched us that we are not much different than them and that we are all sinners in need of His grace and love.  Tears were shed and fervent prayer was had for these young ladies and their future.  We then departed with a deep sense of God’s mercy to so many in Uganda, including us.

We eventually made our way back to Entebbe, then to Dubai, and then home to Los Angeles.  Our ministry adventure into the heart of Africa was over, but not our heart for Africa and for those whose lives we touched and whose lives touched us.  We will continue to pray for what God is doing in the country of Uganda, for the churches, and for the people who He continues to call for Himself and for His kingdom.