BITTERSWEET

Fred writes:  Today was bittersweet as it was our last day at The Way Home.  While today was sweltering and we're tired and starting to look forward to coming home it will still be hard to leave this place and its wonderful people.  This morning Heather sped off on the boda to track down the last three grannies while I stayed behind and spent some time talking to director Russ about how our church might be able to assist him in what God is doing here.  Later in the day we had a very special treat as we were able to be present at a granny interview where she was informed that she would be receiving a new home.  Her son passed away and left her with three orphaned grandkids and she still has three daughters at home as well.  They are all sleeping in the round eight foot diameter hut pictured below.  They will soon have a 10' x 30' house, a new latrine and three years of training and assistance with their garden.

Director Russ shared with them how God has a heart for widows and orphans and that there are people in America who love God and desire to obey Him and invest in the things that He cares about and that is how they are receiving their new home.  At the end of our time with them He then also had an opportunity, at the request of one of the Ugandan pastors who will be following up with the family, to share the way of salvation with them.  It was astounding to hear the sensitive, culturally relevant way in which he was able to share the Good News - Good News that began 2000 years ago in Palestine and now traveled to east Africa by way of North America.  Amazing stuff here.

At the end of the day we were treated by the Ugandan staff here at The Way Home to a traditional Ugandan dinner of mitoke (an un-sweet banana kind of thing cooked like mashed potatoes), greens, rice, potatoes and even some of Tom, one of the turkeys we've been watching strut around the yard all week.  It was great to sit down and break bread with the builders, farmers and pastors who work so diligently bringing shelter, food and Jesus to the people of Uganda.

Tomorrow we head to Jinja so Heather can tie up some loose ends and then to Kampala to visit Pastor Solomon and the Village Drill.

Granny with three of her surviving children and her three orphaned grandchildren.

This is their existing house - all seven of them sleep in there.

Not much privacy left at the latrine.

The Way Home staff cooking us a traitional Ugandan meal.

Mitoke, greens, rice, potatoes and a little bit of our friend Tom the turkey.

"You seen Tom?"  "No, don't know where he went.  Last time I saw
him he was over there by all those people at that kitchen thing."