Author: David Grisanti

It is Tuesday night at 9:10 PM. So far, here is how things have gone:

On Sunday, I preached the morning sermon at CC Soroti. Because there are 2 languages represented in the congregation, a translator was utilized. On the last Sunday of the month, there is only one worship service. But next week, I will preach again but at 2 morning services.

On Monday, I began the series on the Gospel of Matthew for the School of Ministry. I taught two 2-hour classes. It is a group of 15 very bright, inquisitive students. The classes went well. At lunch, I ate with the students, where each day they have a typical Ugandan dish of pinto beans over a kind of white cornmeal, with a side of greens. It is really very tasty, and we had it again today.

That evening, I was invited to a dinner meeting at a restaurant in town, with the church pastors and elders and wives as they plan a couple’s retreat for August. They have 46 couples already registered. It sounds like it’ll be a really good one-day event, and they accomplished a lot at the meeting.

Today, I taught three 2-hour classes. I am really enjoying the time and interaction with the students. Tomorrow, Wednesday, three more sessions and a later afternoon session with 7 second-year students as I try out a new curriculum I’m working on for MTI.

I’ll tell you, it is unseasonably cool for this area, upper 70’s, and everyone is freezing cold but I’m loving it. It is so mild. I am thankful, as last November here it was stifling hot and humid. The School director told me that he and his wife threw an extra blanket on last night. I, on the other hand, turned on the ac.

So that’s it for now. Thanks for the prayers and please feel free to leave a comment!

David

It is now Saturday evening at 6:15 PM. Following breakfast, the power was cut everywhere as a planned blackout, which often occurs on Saturday. So, we went about our business, me studying for tomorrow’s message. We went out to lunch at a local kind of fast-food restaurant with typical Ugandan food.

Then, I rode with Daniel as he drove to a village in order to check on a team of students from the School of Ministry who were conducting a weekend outreach in a village. It was an hour drive on mainly unpaved roads through beautiful countryside. As we neared the village, I remarked that we were literally in the middle of nowhere!

We came into the village and found the students having lunch. Several of them remembered me from last year and warmly greeted me. As they ate, we drove over to the church, planted last year where the pastor was conducting classes on discipleship. We then went back to the students and brought 4 of them back to us, as they will be serving as ushers tomorrow. On the drive home, they talked about their experiences. One team led a total of 17 to Christ. They visited one home where 7 gave their lives to Christ, the dad and 6 kids. The mom is a Christian and had been praying for her family, then the team showed up! The homes there are small, circular thatched huts. They are spread out over extensive areas of open vegetation. I am told that the Ugandans like when visitors come by their home and they are always invited to sit and talk over tea.

We then got back to Soroti and Daniel fired up his generator. So, I figured I had better blog while I have WiFi!

The photos are a collection of students having lunch, those who cooked and served the meal, some of the children, the church, and a view of some of the huts.

More tomorrow!

David

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I arrived into Entebbe on Thursday afternoon after a 5-hour flight from Dubai. On the shuttle to the hotel were 5 ladies from Australia, who will be working at an orphanage for a week or so. As we got talking, I found that they are Christians who attend a Calvary Chapel!

It is now Friday night here, 10:15 PM. This morning I took a taxi from my hotel in Entebbe to an airfield about 30 minutes away, operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship. I have included a photo of the plane. There were 6 total passengers aboard for the very smooth 45 minute flight to Soroti (which would have been a 6-hour drive!) I disembarked the plane and was so surprised by the cool breezes blowing! The weather is very pleasant. For the first 2 nights I am staying at the home of Dr. Daniel and Rachel Graham. He is the Director of the School of Ministry. I really enjoyed the afternoon. There is an English couple staying in the back house, working with African Inland Missions. We all enjoyed great conversation well into the afternoon. We then went for lunch and I took a jet lag-induced nap!

This evening I led a study at the Men’s Fellowship at the church, where we sat outside and had a nice time of Bible study and discussion for a couple of hours.

So, it was a pretty full first day!

I’ll keep you posted as I have time. Hopefully, every day or so.

Thanks for the prayers!

David