My trip started on August 19th, 2011, when I boarded from Entebbe to Dallas, Texas through London
This was going to be my first time to fly British Airways. We left at 9:00 in the morning and reached London, Heathrow airport that evening at 4:00 pm, London is 2 hours behind Uganda time. I spent the night in
This was going to be my first time to fly British Airways. We left at 9:00 in the morning and reached London, Heathrow airport that evening at 4:00 pm, London is 2 hours behind Uganda time. I spent the night in
London, though we could not be allowed out of the airport since we did not have a British visa that allows us, so we spent the night at the airport. This was my first time to be in London. It is such a beautiful city, though I only saw part of it.
evacuate the low lying areas by Friday when the Hurricane was said to “arrive”. Later it was said that the storm would hit on Saturday morning.
The Hurricane hit the land at 7:30 in the morning but thank God is lost its momentum as soon as it hit the land and caused the least damage. A few homes were lost in North Carolina and Virginia and some people lost their lives especially from falling trees that would hit houses. One child died when the tree hit the house where he and his mother were sleeping with a baby, the tree ripped off part of the house killing the boy. By 6:00pm most the roads were closed as the floods kept going higher and several roads cut off by fallen trees. Power was cut off to most places; our house
By 11:00 am we had boarded the British airways plane to Dallas FW airport. We reached Dallas before 3:00 pm. Dallas is 5 hours behind London time and 7 behind Uganda time. I went through the customs security detail which took less time than other times. And soon I had boarded American Airlines on my way to San Antonio. It took us 1hour to get there. Johnson Nantawumbwa, my Ugandan friend who ministers in Maranatha Bible church, was at the airport waiting for me and we headed to his home where I stayed for the fi
rst 4 nights. He and Monica his wife and their two daughters Chloe and Elisa are amazing people. We went to church together and than evening we had the house full of friends and family members. We had a big meal, which was my first time this round. It is typical of Americans to treat their guests to big meals; as a matter of fact every time I travel I put on a lot of weight.
The following day, I joined pastors at
Maranatha church; the pastor has a program he calls Pastors’ nurturing. Several pastors from the neighborhood come to this discipleship program. Pastor Draper shared some good teaching with us. It was a good experience for me and I plan to do this when I go back home, there are many young pastors in Kabale who look to me for guidance, counseling and nurturing. Tuesday I visited Martha to share about the impact Discipleship Tape Ministries is having in our region. We had a good time.
Wednesday, I relocated to Pastor Draper’s home. He has a beautiful home! That evening I
preached at Maranatha Bible church and shared about the great things God is doing in Kabale. On Thursday, I was glad to be part of the BIRTHDAY lunch program prepared for the church staff that celebrated their Birthdays the month of August, Sister Draper was among them. We had a great time. Frank, the accountant then took me around the new church building, he taught me a lot about church finances. Pastor Draper has such a good and dedicated staff. It was a joy to spend some time with
them. I learnt a lot.
Friday morning, my friend Keith Gordon picked me up from church and we headed for the airport, it was time to go to Virginia.
THE HURRICANE
Before I left for Virginia, every one was talking of this big storm that started from the west coast of Africa and built momentum on its way through the Atlantic Ocean. This storm code named
Hurricane Irene was predicted to be the biggest storm ever and was going to hit areas around North Carolina, Virginia, the Washing DC and New York on its way north. This was said to cause a big surge on the waters of the ocean and the many rivers in the area causing a flood that would go up 6 or even 8 ft high. There were warning every where for people to
evacuate the low lying areas by Friday when the Hurricane was said to “arrive”. Later it was said that the storm would hit on Saturday morning.
I left for Virginia on Friday morning and arrived at Richmond airport after 6:00 pm. My friend Sandy was waiting to pick me up. And we headed for Pastor Walt’s residence, where I would stay for the first few days as I mean while wait for this Hurricane thing. Every one was talking of this great Hurricane Irene. Many were predicting that many lives would be lost and property destroyed. We prayed that God would protect us and all people in the areas in the hurricane’s way.
The Hurricane hit the land at 7:30 in the morning but thank God is lost its momentum as soon as it hit the land and caused the least damage. A few homes were lost in North Carolina and Virginia and some people lost their lives especially from falling trees that would hit houses. One child died when the tree hit the house where he and his mother were sleeping with a baby, the tree ripped off part of the house killing the boy. By 6:00pm most the roads were closed as the floods kept going higher and several roads cut off by fallen trees. Power was cut off to most places; our house
too was left in darkness. Now electricity in America means much unlike Uganda. They depend on Electricity for almost every thing; for refrigerators, TV, phones, internet, air conditioning, cooking, warm water, microwave, opening the garage door, laundry, dish washing to mention but a few. Where as I was not so much affected recalling our “Umeme” times back home, when sometime we spend more days without electricity than with it, but anyhow I felt the pinch, because before we knew it, we had lost all phone lines, the internet was off and though we used a generator for lighting and keep the refrigerator food from spoiling, soon the TV too got off. Most of the restaurants closed and churches called off Sunday morning services, anticipating the worst to come and of course most building lost electricity.
It was such an experience! This is nothing like we ever see in Uganda! For most of the night the wind blew so hard and the rain poured down so heavily that you would literally feel the house shake. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night wondering if we were still around and alive! It was so scaring! This was my first time to experience the hurricane. My hosts told me that in the previous hurricane they lost 21 trees with one almost hitting the house, it missed it by inches, “that must have been God” they said. Well, this time, they did not loose even one, but there were several trees that fell down in the neigh hood, with one hitting the house slightly, thank God no body was hurt. By morning, tree branches and leaves were scattered every where, trees lying down, some across roads and low lying areas flooded.
There was a sign of despair in the atmosphere, but thank God
we were alive and Irene was long gone! To my surprise, by 9:00a.m the sun was up and the place warm again and everything back to normal as if nothing had happened!!! In my heart I said, thank you Jesus! Farewell Irene!!!
