Entries by Jim

The Power

I tried to call Henry this week on Thursday at the scheduled time, but could not get through. While unusual, this occasionally happens due to cell phone network problems on the Ugandan end of things. I sent him a text via Skype telling him that I would try again the next morning. On Friday, he […]

Waka Waka

About nine months ago, I was reminded how blessed I am to have such great kids.  Jessica, who is now 16, wrote a reflective paper for one of her classes and was kind enough to share it with me.  I am now sharing it with you as another lesson we can learn from the next […]

Doing Shots with the Gashes

Our preparations for six months in Africa have generated more than a little stress as we attempt to ready our house for five renters, line up the kids’ school work, and determine what we will bring with us in the two suitcases we each get.  As a consequence, the five of us have taken to […]

Our Twin Family

When I first felt what I believed to be a call to relocate to Africa, I asked my family to pray about potentially taking an entire year away from life in the United States to live and serve in Uganda.  Over the course of several months of praying, we determined that six months would be […]

Henry and Hero Update

As usual, I spoke with Henry on Wednesday morning.  He is now back at home in Hoima, Uganda with his family, after having finished the final term of his S4 year (“O” Level) and after having completed the national exams, which consist of about a dozen subjects taken over the course of three weeks.  Henry […]

Oval Office and Disneyland

I made it home safe and sound, though I am still struggling to readjust my biological clock.  It is so good to be with my family again, and I am excited to bring them back to Uganda with me in two short months. I have been wanting to write about Hero’s American adventure in the […]

Departure

At some point in the middle of the night, a huge thunder strike hit that sounded like a bomb blast.  I remember waking up briefly, and then nodding back off.  My over-active subconscious quickly transformed the thunder strike into a bomb blast and built a dream around it.  In the dream, rebels seized control of […]

Mama Museveni

Bob Goff and John Niemeyer set off early in the morning for Mukono, a town nine miles outside of Kampala that is reputed to be the witch doctor capital of Uganda.  Working with Margaret the Registrar/Pastor, Bob had called a meeting of “Traditional Healers” from around the country in an effort to educate them about […]

A Day I Will Never Forget

When I am 90 years old and having trouble recognizing loved ones or even remembering my name, I will still remember this day like it was yesterday.  It began like the others this past week — up early catching up on e-mails and world events.  The prior evening, I learned why Tango (my driver) hadn’t […]

Boda Boda

As those who have visited Africa know all too well, there is a mode of transportation here entirely foreign to Americans – the Boda Boda, or Boda for short.  Bodas are simply motorcycle taxis.  There are literally thousands of Boda drivers throughout Kampala, who loiter around the streets in search of people looking for a […]