MY VISIT TO VIRGINIA

GLOUCESTER AND HISTORY

Gloucester happens to be on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. This city, together with the neighboring cities; Williamsburg and Jamestown are historical places. A lot is remembered from these cities.

These were the first settlements of the British as they came in to colonize America. Most places here bear British names. Possibly Williamsburg Jamestown derive their names from the British kings around that time.

It is amazing that in the same place on the York River, the British surrendered as the American fought for their independence. One bridge is called the battle bridge and it is said the British surrendered here and retreated back home as the America flag was hoisted up.

Virginia is so beautiful with trees all around and beautiful rivers. Many people do fishing on these rivers and they do animal hunting in the forests.

MY SHOOTING LESSONS

Many people in America own guns. It is legal to be licensed with government to own a gun in America on request as long as you have a clean record from crime.

Tom owns some of these which he sometimes uses for hunting. He says his father taught him to shoot and to do hunting.

Tom asked me if I knew how to shoot a gun and I told him that I had never even come close to a gun. Tom said he would teach me to shoot a gun. It was kind of scaring to me to touch a gun. Our Uganda history is tainted with blood shed and murder by use of guns, many people would run away on the sight of some one with a gun. But, I said I will give it a try.

So Friday and Saturday evening, Tom took me to the woods to teach me and he taught me how to handle the gun, and how to aim at a target and then he taught me how to shoot.

My gun lessons started with the pellet gun which is normally used to shoot small animals like rats and birds, it can hurt a bigger animal though.

The next day I graduated to the 22gun. This is powered by gun powder and is noisier than the first one.

It was so exciting and interesting to shoot.

We were targeting water bottles placed some distance away. At first I was scared to death but I got used to the blast and there I was aiming at the bottle. I missed it several times, but I came pretty close.

Next time I will learn the bigger one.

CRUISING ON YORK RIVER

Tom owns two motor boats and many times he goes out on the York River to do some sporting. It is an interesting sport but you have to be extra careful, you can easily fall off. Some rope connected to the engine is tied on your wrist so that in case you fall off, the engine stops automatically. Also you have to put on a life jacket to keep you a float incase you fall off, so you can get back to the boat easily .Sandy told me that she fell off the boat several times.

It was kind of risky to join Tom for this Saturday’s cruising on water. But I felt it was ok to learn this too.

We put on wet suits which keep us from getting wet; we put our life jacket and pulled the boats off the truck into the water.

It was so easy starting the engine, and it was not difficult for me to direct the boat since I know how to ride a motorcycle and it is almost like a motorcycle.

I started off slowly with Tom watching my every movement and I slowly gained confidence, and there I was cruising on the water.

I would get nervous when we would meet big waves but soon I got used and I would sail through. However we did go deeper on the York river since the waves tend to be bigger and stronger the deeper you go.

I soon was on the river pacing but he best I could go was 52 MPH. It was fun!

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

I was scheduled to preach at Friendship Baptist church. Pastor Walt, the pastor of this growing church is a friend of tom and Sandy and we met one of their mission trip to Uganda.

Tom and Sandy took me to Walt’s place and we joined church later.

It was a blessing for me to minister to such a hungry congregation for the word of God. God did amazing things two ladies were healed by the Lord during the service.

We had lunch together with Tom, Sandy, Walt and a few members of the church leadership together with friends of Sandy from the Light House Worship church. We had a great discussion and good fellowship.

After Lunch, Sandy took me back to the airport since my flight was scheduled for that evening.

I boarded for Washington /Dulles from where I connected back to Oklahoma City.

Jeff had booked for me to stay at Hyatt Place, a very beautiful Hotel in the city; I reached here by 9:00p.m.

I enjoyed my stay at this Hotel.