Back in Uganda

         I arrived back in Uganda July 17th, after a great two months at home. The first month at home I was in my friends', Abe and Kate DeHart, wedding. I also spent a lot of time helping on our family farm. It was to run equipment again and not to have to do everything by hand. The second month I spent time traveling, going on vacation with my family, and getting ready to come back to Uganda.

        Upon arriving in Uganda, I didn't have much time to rest. Anthony and Sara Sytsma, missionary friends of mine, were doing a training call "When Helping Hurts". The training was attended mostly by Ugandan pastors and church leaders. So two days after I arrived in Uganda, with jetlag still reminding me I had just arrived in Uganda, I attended the training.

The training included teaching by either Anthony or Sara with everyone and also times of small group discussions.

        I enjoy trainings like this because it is good hear the local perspective. We discussed issues of dependency and how to help beggars and other poor people in their community in ways that can help people develop.

Here the small group I was part of came up with a development plan. Someone was going to grow beans and take them to market to sell.
From left to right: Betty, Lazarus, and myself. 

There were times of laughter as well.
 

        The next weekend, after finishing the training, I went with the Sytsma's and their friend Jeff to hike Mt. Wanali, the mountain I can see from my house. This was the first time I had hiked this mountain.

What Mt. Wanali looks like from my house.

From left to right: Anthony, Jeff, Sara, myself.

Such a sweet little house, surrounded by vegetation and crops.

The water fall in the background is a large waterfall that can be seen from my house.

So much crop diversity in Uganda, especially on these mountains! In the immediate right corner are peas, in the right center are potatoes, on the left is a banana plant, and in the center, it is hard to see, is coffee.

       Following the hike, I traveled to Iganga that very afternoon to visit my pastor friend, Daniel, as well as my friend Luke Kuepfer. Luke is the one who connected me with Daniel. I always enjoy visiting Daniel and his church. I have many friend in Iganga. It was fun visiting Daniel's farm with Luke and his son Jamin.

Visiting Daniel's farm with Luke and his son Jamin.

Daniel and myself in his soybean field.