Tag Archives: missionary nurse

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We've finally sold our house, our airline tickets are purchased, the Covid tests are resulted, and the visa applications are approved. This time both of us will be going. We leave tomorrow (Sunday, 16 January 2022). This brief, two-week trip will be mainly to introduce Cindy around to our friends and to get her help setting up our apartment.

We also will bid farewell to our dear friends, the Cessnun family, as they leave Uganda after 14 years of mission work. It breaks our hearts to see them go. In their generosity, they are leaving us several of their household items and permitting us to purchase their 4-wheel-drive van.

Pray for safe, unencumbered travel. As I learned last time, flight delays, cancellations, and lost luggage certainly can steal the joy of the experience.

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Wednesday, 6 October 2021

Today was work as usual at the General Ward, which was busy with opportunities to be a blessing. At the end of the day, I returned home to Team House, which is dark these days and usually locked until I arrive. I was not lonely long, however, because Janet arrived and we shared dinner out on the front porch.

Thursday, 7 October 2021

I had a chat with Dr. Colby Cessnun about the ongoing Independence Cup football (soccer) tournament. I learned that he and his family sponsor this and several other tournaments during the year as a Christian ministry outreach. Each team has a chaplain, who gives a Gospel message and prays at the outset of each event.

I abbreviated my work schedule today because I was told the girls’ football match was at 2pm. As it turns out, I could have finished my shift or at least taken lunch with the nurses, because that 2pm start time was on what is lovingly referred to around her as “Africa time,” which means no rushing — we get to it when we get to it. This is opposed to “America time” which means 1:59 and 59 seconds.

At the football pitch, I was happy to see so many of the children wearing the tee-shirts of CrossRoad Church, my home church. Janet was even wearing University of Florida orange and blue. (Sorry, Pastor Kevin. No Wildcats here.) Vivian, one of the RG kids Cindy and I sponsor, had a great game, but felt bad because as she went for a high kick, her defender got between her foot and the ball, resulting to a kicking injury to the visitor’s face. The girls easily won their match 12 goals to 1, and Shalom was the high-scoring player with nine goals.

I was told this day was the last for Mama Janice and Dr. Tim McCall, and that they would be heading back to Texas on Friday. I looked for opportunities to meet with them, but never saw them at the football pitch. By the time I got free to discuss things with them, they were busy packing at their house. Even their dog, Stoney, who is often friendly to me, chased me away from the house.

Friday, 8 October 2021

I preached the devotional message at RG Hospital today, using a reading from 2 Corinthians 4:4-10. I spoke of Jesus as the light of life, then tied in Gideon’s concealed torches in jars of clay in Judges 7:16-21. I reminded the group that we are all jars of clay brought from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7) and that the light of life was present at Creation and remains today (John 1:1-5). I pointed out that this light can be trusted, even as an anchor holds a ship secure (Psalms 27:1). Then I closed with Jesus’ call to keep the light pure, and to keep out the darkness (Luke 11:36). The feedback I got was that I was very encouraging, and that I spoke properly, annunciating my words so that I was understood. This can be a problem for American speakers, who are used to a very sloppy sort of English that Ugandans call “lazy speech.”

I left the hospital after rounding with the clinicians, because I had to prepare for the girls’ semi-final match. I acted as chaperone to two of the adult RG girls, Prisca and Olivia, who walked with me the four miles to Karuma in the hot sun. Even with hats and an umbrella, we were melting and exhausted when we arrived, not to mention late. As we walked up, Vivian scored the first (and only) goal of the day. In the end, our girls won, but got a lesson in humility after all the crushing defeats they are used to dealing out. After the game, I hired two motorcycle taxis, one for me and one for the two girls in my charge. We all went back to the girls’ dorm and celebrated the victory.

While I was at the dorm, Janet brought me a special treat, a stewed vegetable called Entula and nicknamed the African garden egg. She served it with posho and insisted I eat, even though it was not a mealtime. Apparently she spent her pocket money on this favorite of hers and was eager to prepare it for me as a thanks for all the meals I have shared with her. It was delicious.

I began talks with a real estate broker who confirmed for me that one of the apartments I have been watching since last June is available. I made an appointment to see it on Monday.

I was kept company at Team House by Hosman, Janet, and another Janet, who all shared stories of their life, their cares, and concerns. It warms my heart to hear the kids open up. I feel trusted and respected, and regularly have the opportunity to pour love and what I pray is godly guidance in their lives.

Saturday, 9 October 2021 — Ugandan Independence Day!

This is a big day! Certainly it is for all Ugandans, since they celebrate their independence from Great Britain in 1962, but especially for the RG girls who have advanced to the championship football match (soccer game) in Karuma today. I also learned that RG has a special guest for a women’s conference happening next week: Karen Abercrombie, whom you may better know as “Miss Clara” from the inspirational movie War Room. I know I will get to run into her at some point, since she is staying just two doors down from Team House, but so far, I have not had the privilege of her acquaintance.

Yesterday’s trek was so excruciatingly hot and wearisome, that Prisca refused to join Olivia and me today. I admitted I am too old for such walks in the equatorial African sun, and hired a single Boda (motorcycle) for the two of us. The Boda men have a way of fitting a lot of cargo and passengers on these small bikes, and this extra-large American was no problem for our driver.

As the team huddled before the match, I joined them, and was given permission to pray the blessing over the team. I affirmed that we would not be so vain as to ask for victory, but asked that God would glorify Himself as He enabled the girls to use the talents He gave them to the best of their ability. We offered all the diligence, dedication, and concentration as acts of worship, and then confessed that, if we were to win the cup, we would do so for the glory of God. The girls played their hearts out and their opponents forced them to lay it all on the field. In the end, RG took the cup, winning this championship match one goal to none.

Toward the end of the match there was some roughness on the part of our opponents, but the RG girls did not fight back. With every bit of grace and honor I could have prayed for, the girls claimed their victory. The defeated team were not so gracious, and a few made threats of physical harm that were so convincing, the head coach made our girls pack up and go back home, missing out on the awards ceremony. I stayed behind with a few others who had either come by other means than team transportation, or who somehow got past the coach. It was heartbreaking to know most of the girls who had worked so hard for this weren’t able to enjoy the receipt of the prize, but I am told the cup got a reception with a dancing parade all around the RG sports complex when it arrived not the van.

I returned to Team House in time to freshen up for dinner at the home of Patrick and Nancy (Mama Jerome). They put on an incredible feast, and threatened to hold me to the rule that says you cannot leave a Ugandan table until you have first eaten all that has been laid before you. There was no way I could have done that, even if there had been five of me! Eventually, they did start calling in neighbors to help us eat all this food, but it was very good. All except the chicken gizzard I was presented as a special offering to the guest of honor. Cindy would be proud of me because she loves those things, but I choked it down only because of the honor with which it was given to me.

Patrick has been like a brother to me, both on my last visit and even more so on this one. He has a way of making me understand things from a Ugandan’s perspective. He is gentle with his corrections and detailed in his educational points. I came away from dinner a little closer to this family., and a lot more satisfied that I am making a difference in the lives of those I have met here.

Sunday, 10 October 2021

I went to church off-campus, at a church that was built on the road to Karuma, specifically for the locals. Dr. Cessnun and a former missionary to RG named Claude had built the structure and the church grew within it. It was good to see people celebrating Jesus in their own language, and I even had fun trying to sing along reading the hymnal written in Luo (the umbrella language of Acholi and Langi). I was honored to be entrusted with Dr. Cessnun’s family of ten and his van, while he drove another car and picked up passengers on the way to church. Maryanne Cessnun said she absolutely hates driving in the mud, and Karuma-RG Road was virtually muck soup most of the way, so she was happy to let me have the wheel. I got to meet several new faces, and noticed a few friends in the service as well. Though this church was developed by Baptists as a more Baptist-influenced mission, I was encouraged to see that a couple of my friends, one a known Catholic, and the other a Pentecostal, were both made comfortable here. I was a little surprised when, at the closing of the service, I, a mere visitor, was asked to say the closing prayer. I am always happy to pray though.

Pastor Jimmy approached me after the service and accused me of being a resident. He said I speak like I have been in Uganda for a very long time. I told him I was practicing a lot at the hospital and would soon be making more of a home here. It is nice to be accepted by the locals.

I spent the afternoon with several of the adult RG “kids” at Team House. At about 5pm Janet and I decided to visit the hospital, she to visit a cousin who was attending a patient, and I to deliver some sneakers to a nurse who recently informed me she has to walk several kilometers to and from work each shift. I wish you could have seen this precious lady dancing and praising God for these shoes. You would have thought Heaven had sent them by doves.

As I left the hospital, I loitered around the security gate chatting with the three RG security guards there, including the chief, Lawrence. The three were talking about how well known I have become, and were chuckling about my Acholi (Luo) name, Mucungwa, which means citrus fruit. Lawrence honored me with this remark: “You don’t act like the Americans that come here. You are truly with the people and are happy to share in their lives in a friendly way.” Lawrence and his boys see just about everything that goes on around here, and I was both humbled and honored by his feedback. I simply replied, “I have a friendly Jesus in my heart, and I only want to share Him!”

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The Lemmons have a lot going on this month! I am still working on partnership development between many household projects. If you have not received a call from me, please let me know. I'd love to get together with you. We are still only 26% funded for our launch, so there is a lot of work to do. I will return to Uganda for another six weeks starting September 23rd, so there is a lot to finish before I go. That makes for some serious time crunching. 

Cindy’s parents are aging and in need of assistance, so she has decided to remain in the U.S. to be near them, at least for the time being. She still plans to join me in Uganda for short spells as circumstances allow, and to join me full-time in the future. Until then, she remains my administrative genius here in the States, while I will be the boots-on-the-ground overseas, at least for now.

The housing market being what it is, we decided to downsize and sell our big house. Since Cindy will be staying stateside, we put in an offer on a small condominium across the street from our home church, and our offer was accepted. Closing on the condo should take place around the second week of September. As we do some minor repairs on the big house and prepare it for market, we expect to sell right about the time I will be settling in Uganda, leaving Cindy, my administrative whiz, to handle the sale all by herself.

We have begun the process of officially organizing as TLC Uganda, Inc. with the intent of filing for tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3. So far, the only update I have received about that is that our name is approved. I look forward to introducing our board members on a separate page, but for the time being, allow me to recognize them (in alphabetical order): Melody Bruno, Nancy Cardoza, Dennis Cooke, April Tapp, and Melissa Workman. We are thrilled to have them on our team, and can’t wait to get started. 

In the meantime, Cindy and I are re-tiling floors, spackling and painting walls, updating bathroom fixtures, and getting rid of a lifetime of household tchotchke. If we could tip the house on its end and dump out all our belongings it might save some time, but we are stuck doing it the same way millions have done before, with tedious sorting, boxing, and selling. Matthew 19:21 has never meant so much to us: “Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”

We are working on it. Pray we will accomplish all that has been set before us, without serious injury, and with what sanity we have intact. Thank you!