In J.R.R Tolkien’s epic tale “The Hobbit”, the main character, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, wrote the story of his great adventure and gave it the title “There and Back Again”. It was a story filled with travels, creatures and people that were beyond his imagination before leaving the Shire. Bilbo also performed actions that he did not believe he was capable of doing on his own.
Living in quiet little Canby, Oregon, life is much the same day-to-day and life is familiar and comfortable much as in Bilbo’s beloved Shire. Then an opportunity arose to travel to the far side of the world and we were faced with the choice to leave our little Shire and go to a place very foreign to us.
The journey itself was long. Our team arose at 3am Pacific time and was driven to PDX to board our winged steed named United.
Aboard the plane, we flew 5 hours to Newark New Jersey and saw the NYC skyline and Statue of Liberty as we approached landing. 8 1/2 hours later, we were watching the sunrise in Brussels, Belgium. Languages were foreign now but there was still a generally Western appearance. There was some concern, muted somewhat by sleeplessness, about the growing threat of terrorism in Brussels, but we were confident that we were in God’s will and protection. We then boarded the last flight that would take us another 9 hours as we first stopped in Kigali, Rwanda (capital city that only a handful of years ago was the site of one of the most brutal acts of attempted genocide history has known) before we landed at Entebbe Airport (yes THE Entebbe Airport). (NOTE: I had to borrow a picture from the internet as it’s unlawful to photograph the airport – plus we landed near midnight Uganda time.)
Immediately on deplaning, we could smell the unique aroma of Uganda, feel the humidity of the warm equatorial country’s climate and seeing the armed security guards outside the infamous structure of the airport let us know that we were indeed not in the Shire any more. We were greeted by our Ugandan friends, boarded a bus and drove into the midnight world of Kampala Uganda. As we rode in this foreign land, we were soon drenched by a warm African rain – our hosts told it that it was very unusual to have this rain during the dry season and the Ugandans would be so happy because it brings temporary relief from the scorching heat, knocks down the dust and is considered a blessing from God!
After two nights of trying to sleep, a tour of the Africa Renewal Ministry headquarters and a visit to the Loving Hearts Baby Home. Though most of the babies were still asleep at the baby’s home, some of the stories of how these sweet young children of God were abandoned, had no parents or family that could be found or worse – we were reminded of the cruelty of the world and the blessing of people who loved and cared for these little ones. Pray God gives them loving homes…
After the tour, we loaded on the bus and took the 4 hour drive to Mubende. This was the site of the riot we experienced in 2012, complete with the full tear gas experience, but that was not on the agenda for this journey. Instead, we rode out to the village of Kacungwa for our first visit. Riding down the ever narrowing roads to the remote village, we were constantly greeted by Ugandan children running, waving and shouting “Muzungu” (white person) – excited when we would wave back to them.
We spent the afternoon meeting our old and new friends in Kacungwa and were blessed to be part of an amazing time of worship with our Ugandan church brothers & sisters in Christ.
That night, in the dark parking lot of the Town View Hotel in Mubende, we spent several hours by flashlight and minimal tools assembling the portable basketball hoop that would be the first ever seen in Kacungwa and would introduce the game to the village where soccer (futbol) is the main sport. Arriving the next morning, the assembly was completed, the basketball hoop erected in all its splendor and the initial introduction was started.
As much time as we spent with the children and filled our hearts with the smiles, hugs and laughter of these children, it would soon be extended even further by the excitement of the first ever Canby Cup Soccer Tournament championship game. It was a tournament sponsored by Kacungwa in honor of Canby Christian Church and the friendship we have developed over the years. An amazing soccer match was decided in penalty kicks, friendly warriors on the field played to a draw in regulation time with a miraculous last second goal to the excitement to the thousands of fans who watched. Tomorrow’s medical clinic was announced to all and the gospel preached. I have never been part of a greater sporting event I think . . .
The following two days were an intense medical clinic with 658 people being seen by the doctors, 405 lab tests conducted for malaria, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, but most important 19 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ during prayer and counseling with the patients. What a truly hard, glorious, sad and wonderful time. We saw so many people seriously ill with malaria treated with medicines, prayed with women and babies sick and abandoned by their husbands, a woman with a deteriorating thumb bitten by a witch doctor, a young girl whose intestines pushed through her stomach following a botched surgery – so many things we never imagined in the Shire. We thank God for the people who donated money to make this a reality and save countless lives, the doctors and medics from Uganda who served tirelessly, but most of all God – because we know that people treat, but God alone heals. We love, but God supplies the love we give.
We saw the extreme need for regular, quality medical care in this distant land. On an afternoon under the bright, hot Uganda sun, we gathered with many people from the village to pray God’s blessing on the land where the medical clinic will be built. Local church members currently meeting on the property, community leaders, neighbors, Kacungwa Community Church leaders and the team from Canby held hands in a large circle to thank God for what He is doing, ask for protection for the facility and people who will work here, and for His Holy Spirit to do great things here that will bring glory to God.
After more amazing adventures that are too numerous to count, we at last came time to part with our friends in Kacungwa. Any great journey carries with it a full range of emotions – and this journey was no different. Goodbyes were full of tears, joy, happiness, sadness at leaving those we have come to love so much and praise to our God who has knit our hearts together.
On the journey, we saw creatures that we could not possibly imagine in the Shire other than what had been seen in zoos or told in hushed stories over ancient fires (aka TV).
There are more tales from this journey “There and Back Again” that cannot possibly be told in a short time and in limited space. Some details have already been written and others will soon be told by those along on the journey in their own words. In just two weeks our lives were changed, our perspective on the world changed forever and our hearts were altered in ways that will take time to fully comprehend.
One thing we did learn was that truly Mukama Mulungi – God is good. After witnessing disease, poverty, hope, generosity, love, grace and the power of faith, we prepared for the return journey. We enjoyed a final meal in Uganda at Kentucky Fried Chicken and proceeded to return home on the route we arrived. Arriving at the Entebbe Airport, we waited 4 hours for our flight to depart and endured the 8 1/2 hour flight to Brussels. Even tighter security measures consumed much of the 4 hour wait at Brussels. The 8 1/2 hour flight across the Atlantic to Newark New Jersey was timed by God to just miss the snow storms that had shut down air travel in that part of the country the previous few days. A 5 1/2 hour wait in Newark offered a taste of home with our first real hamburger and chocolate shake in weeks. The final leg of the journey was a 6 hour flight and 40 minute drive that finally returned the exhausted travelers to their comfortable homes in the shire.
We each have to now sort through what we have experienced on this great adventure and try to readjust to the world we have lived in that will never be quite the same.
In Tolkien’s book, the end of the story of Bilbo Baggins was really just the beginning of an even greater adventure. I for one, am so anxious to begin the next great adventure with my Lord Jesus Christ!
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:5-8 (NKJV)
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