Why so serious?

Stoic, serious expressions are often on the faces of Ugandan pastors and leaders as they carefully and intently listen to our teaching. From our American cultural perspective, this can be unsettling, causing us to wonder if our message is getting through to our audience.

As we talk with individuals, however, we discover that they are grasping and understanding Jesus’ message of servant leadership, for which we are grateful to God. He gives us the words we need, aids our translators, and the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of minds of both teacher and student to communicate the truths that need to be grasped.

In spending time with people before, during and after sessions, we discover that they are very engaged with the call to turn from leadership based on pride and fear to Jesus’ servant leadership based on humility and confidence.

They hear God’s word to them as they participate in the various activities that allow them to realize that they are not alone in their struggle with pride and fear, that help them determine the top values that will guide their leadership and how to lead people at various stages of development, as well as developing habits to sustain servant leadership as a lifelong journey.

Our time in the home of a Ugandan pastor, sharing a homemade lunch was the epitome of Ugandan hospitality: washing our hands before the meal, welcoming us, providing a bountiful selection of delicious freshly-prepared foods, and comfortable conversation. It was a wonderful gift after so many restaurant meals and snack meals on the bus.

Vicent just left the hotel for his “refreshment,” lunch and break, before returning to serve us in the evening. He is a gracious young man, one of many of our friends in Iganga who serve us faithfully and with grace here at Mum’s Resort Hotel. This is our second year here, and we have been welcomed as returning family.

James, our bus driver, serves us with great care, not only driving, but making sure we have water to drink, communicating with local officials on our behalf, patiently waiting for us as we teach, and inquiring after our well-being.

What I have come to realize, upon reflection, is that the stoic expressions and seriousness with which the Ugandan people receive our teaching is a sign of respect and an indication of their desire to learn all that we have to teach them.

American audiences and students have so many options that we tend to undervalue what we are being given. Not so here in Africa. Each opportunity to learn is seen as a gift from God, not to be squandered, but to be received with great seriousness and responsibility to learn and to put what is being learned into practice.

We trust that the Lord will be true to His word, and that not one word of His truth will fail to accomplish the purposes for which He has sent it out. Our prayer is that He will use the message of Jesus to transform lives here in Uganda, first those whom we are teaching, and then those whom they begin to influence through the power of Jesus expressed in Christ-like servant leadership.

 

When it rains, it pours…

Today was one of those days, the kind when I am overwhelmed with the grace of God.

All of my financial needs for the upcoming trip to Uganda have been met. All of them. Over and above what I had been trusting God to provide. Instead of asking me to finance half of the trip out of my own resources, as I had originally intended to do, God showed me once again that my life is lived in total and complete dependence upon Him, and He can make His grace abound toward me. He has called me to go to Uganda, and He will make the way. Just as He has provided me with every financial resource to make this trip a reality, He will provide every resource (physical, spiritual, intellectual, emotional) that I will need to minister well in Jesus’ name.

Traveling to Uganda isn’t easy. It isn’t the plane trip, although that is long (27 hours). It’s about being in a different culture, where cultural norms are different, so that it is hard to completely relax into the familiar way of doing things. People are gracious and welcoming, yet it’s hard to rely on one’s normal intuitions. A heightened sense of self-consciousness, being ready for the unexpected, paying attention to how things are done in this culture are ever-present.

But the unfamiliar environment provides a fresh backdrop for seeing God at work–utter dependence upon His Spirit to guide, unity between believers in Christ, appreciation for every gift of grace and act of mercy. When it rains, it pours, and God’s grace will drench every moment of my trip. Of this I am sure. I can hardly wait!

It’s sinking in…

I am going back to Uganda.

It won’t even have been a year since I was there the first time.

Not only did I never imagine myself going to Africa, but I for sure didn’t imagine going twice in one year.

I am excited to:

• reconnect with people I met last October
• see how they are growing as servant leaders
• help them take the next step in their leadership journey
• meet new people
• see the transformational power of Jesus’ teaching unleashed in their lives
• experience the intimacy of being totally dependent on God in ways that we often don’t experience in the USA

Our motto last time, as my sister reminded me today, was “100% prepared, 100% flexible,” and that is exactly what we will need to be this time around. Ministry in Uganda is nothing if not unpredictable (wait, did that come out right?). From place-to-place, day-to-day, minute-to-minute, you never know if you will have power, food, or people (what if it rains and the streets turn to mud and no one can come for hours?).

Ministry in Uganda is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, other than last October, of course! As servant leaders, it keeps us alert and on our toes, our ears tuned for God’s whisper, Jesus’ voice, the Spirit’s prompting. That’s a good place to be, in Uganda, or in the USA. I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us…

Travel Partners Needed: Apply Here

You know how God invited me to Uganda last fall, and gave me the opportunity to see Him “show off,” transforming lives through the Lead Like Jesus message. I was humbled as I watched what He does when you lift up the name of Jesus, touching hearts, transforming minds, inspiring individuals and churches to live differently and partner together in ministry. My advice to people since that experience has been to say “yes” to God when He invites you to do something.

In Iganga at a final worship celebration with our Ugandan brothers and sisters, I cried (surprise!) as they sang the gospel chorus, “When He calls me, I will answer; I’ll be somewhere working for my Lord.” Then they turned to us and invited us to return in a year to see how they had lived out what we had taught them. It hasn’t been quite a year, but God has invited us to return to Uganda, and by “us,” I mean “me!” This time, we have been invited to also travel to Northern Uganda, where we already have 1500-2000 waiting for us, many of them traveling by bus from Southern Sudan, to hear how they can model their lives after Jesus.

Would you be my travel partners? I will post the details about the trip in the next few days. I know today, even more than I did a year ago, how crucial your prayer support is for us as we go. I would be honored if you would commit to pray for me, our team, and those in Uganda. Over and over, last year in Uganda, we heard,

“Thank you for loving us. Thank you for loving Uganda. Thank you for loving us enough to come.”

Let me borrow from Ugandan brothers and sisters for a moment, to say,

“Thank you for being part of my life and my journey. Thank you for loving Uganda. Thank you for loving me enough to partner with me in the way that God leads you. I couldn’t say yes to God’s call without your prayer support and without your financial partnership.”

Day 9: What a difference a day makes

Here we are, back at the Imperial Royale in Kampala after three days in Iganga in Eastern Uganda. A woman at one of our encounters in Kampala last week said to me, “Don’t forget our villages,” and now we know why.

Kampala is the easy place to visit in Uganda. Come to one of Uganda’s cities, and the British and European influence can be easily felt. Travel even half-a-day into the countryside, and you are in a different world.

Our first stop was Jinja at the source of the Nile River as it begins its 4000 mile northbound journey from Lake Victoria to the Mediterranean Sea. Cameras were pointing out every window as the Nile came into site. Two bridges span the river as it flows beneath the Kampala-Jinja Road. Our driver turned off the highway and drove us through roads lined with colonial British homes and alongside the Jinja Golf Club on our way to the Source of the Nile park. Once there, we made our way down uneven stone steps that wound through vendors selling African crafts and clothing, to the bank of the river. A guide directed us to the large sign that provided some history and information about the river, before making a short presentation.

Several of us took advantage of his offer of a boat ride that took us toward Lake Victoria. We disembarked to have photos taken at a small island in the middle of the river, before heading back. Along the way, we oohed and aahed over cormorants, kingfishers, ibis, and large lizards, whose skin, we were told, is used for the tall African drums. At one point, our guides seemed taken aback by the size of one of the lizards (about 4-5 ft. long), which was somewhat disquieting, but the moment passed quickly. A photo taken of me shows me grinning ear-to-ear! It never occurred to me that one day I would ride on the Nile. What a thrill!

About an hour later, we arrived in Iganga, Tabitha’s home village. Tabitha’s father and family (including her brother David, who organized the LLJ meetings in Iganga, and her sister Agnes), along with religious and civic leaders, and family friends, were waiting to greet us. Cries of “You are welcome,” and warm handshakes took place all around us as we made our way into the yard, where we found two white tents. One tent held all of the family and community guests, while the second, on the other side of the yard, held a wooden table and about 20 empty chairs. Once we were settled in our seats, a welcoming ceremony of greetings and introductions ensued, with prayers and speeches by various people. Tabitha’s father declared that he had not been so happy since his wedding day, and was obviously proud of his daughter’s desire to help Uganda by bringing Lead Like Jesus to the people.

Lunch was a buffet of Ugandan fare, from rice to matooke (banana) with ground nut gravy (think peanut butter sauce minus the salt), Irish potatoes, rice, coleslaw, beef short ribs, chicken, fish, and more. The community guests were served small bowls of fresh pineapple to nibble on while we were served and tables were set up where our chairs had been. Then they, too, went through the buffet line and we began to eat, mostly still in our separate tents. As the meal began drawing to a close, Tabitha and her father got out their family photo album and began passing the photos around to show us. Tabitha’s father and mother as young adults, at their wedding, and with their young children; Tabitha and Stone at their wedding; Tabitha’s grandparents. It was a wonderful time.

Rain began to fall as we were eating, which Tabitha’s father explained meant that God has approved of our visit. When it became apparent that it would not stop any time soon, the Igangans came up with a clever idea to help us get better acquainted. They simply carefully moved their tent, hosting it above their heads, and walking it over to adjoin our tent! Once we were all settled again, they led us in a heartwarming time of singing praises and hymns. There was a sense of unity and connection through Christ that transcended cultural and ethnic differences. Again, speeches were made, including one by Tabitha’s grandfather, who declared that Tabitha was carrying on the legacy of her great-grandmother Tabitha. Tabitha’s brother David served as interpreter throughout the speeches.

A couple of additional memorable moments during the day included one of the young children who was obviously mystified with our white skin. He eventually warmed up to Karen. Oh, and while we were singing together, a chicken came wandering through the yard, just casually sauntering. I guess he knew he was safe since we had so much food on the buffet tables. It was a wonderful time of feeling accepted into a local family and experiencing the hospitality of the Tabitha’s family and the whole village.

As the rain continued to pour, we made our way back to the bus and headed to Mum Resort Hotel, where we checked into our dormitory-like rooms for the three days of work ahead of us in Iganga. As we were to discover, the internet connection was practically non-existent, so that I am writing this on Saturday evening, as we have returned to Kampala. I hope to write again soon, and hopefully post on Monday with details of our time in Iganga.

A quick word just to say that we had an overwhelming turn-out of people, 200 over what we were expecting, and every time we thought we couldn’t hold any more people, another bus would arrive. When all was said and done, we had 585 plus participants. People rarely come to the villages to train and encourage Christians, preferring the comforts of Kampala and Entebbe, which we can appreciate. But the people in Iganga were incredibly warm and hungry for what we were teaching them. The sacrifice of moving out of our comfort zone was definitely worth it, and we have the stories to tell. But that will have to wait for another day.

We left part of our hearts in Iganga, and while we are glad to be back in Kampala, it was a somewhat harrowing journey back, and we are definitely longing to return to our homes and families. Our flight leaves at 11:30 PM Sunday October 23, (4:30 PM Eastern).

 

Day 7: Discovering God in Uganda

It comes as no surprise that we are finding God powerfully at work here in Uganda. God is the one who called us to come and join Him in what He is already doing here. Uganda has a long Christian heritage, and we at Lead Like Jesus are joining hundreds of others whom God has called to minister in this land. Our piece of the work is to lift up Jesus as the greatest leadership model of all time.

God has gone before us, stirring this message in the hearts of many. As Karen and I went to worship on Sunday, we found the pastor preaching on turning away from a prideful spirit and embracing servant leadership! For those of you who know the Lead Like Jesus message, these are familiar words.

“Changing Uganda,” he taught, “begins with each person turning from pride to humility and brokenness.”

Karen turned to me, asking, “Did he read the [Lead Like Jesus] book?” We smiled and marveled at God’s invitation to be here at this time when He is stirring the message of servant leadership in His people in Uganda. Talking with him and his wife afterward, he was surprised and pleased to hear how his message aligned with the message we were bringing.

Our team members worshiped at three different locations: a Catholic cathedral, an Anglican church, and a Pentecostal church. Karen and I spent two hours together with our Ugandan brothers and sisters, worshiping God, hearing His Word and message proclaimed, praying together for students sitting for national exams today, and baptizing new believers with great joy.

As honored guests, we were invited to take front row seats, and both of us were asked to come and speak a word of greeting to the church. A Lugandan-language Bible study was going on as we arrived, but the worship service was in English and we found ourselves singing familiar worship songs and praise choruses. The church that we attended runs a school, ministering to orphans and the surrounding community, Christian and non-Christian alike.

Last night, Tabitha’s husband Stone took all of us to Ndere Cultural Center (www.ndere.com), where we enjoyed dances and food from many of the regions of Uganda. What a refreshing break and fun end to our day!

Days 5 and 6: The road to Entebbe

The road to Entebbe is lined with an eclectic mix of stalls, nightclubs and crowded, open air markets. Verdant green hillsides with red roofs peeking through the trees alternate with poverty-stricken areas. Crowds of people wander the unpaved red clay earth at the side of the road. Massive bunches of green bananas bring color to the markets. It was pouring rain Friday morning, which added to the challenge of driving, but our driver safely delivered us to Laico Lake Victoria Hotel, a lovely establishment in Entebbe. The heavy rain impacted people’s ability to travel, so we prepared for a late start to the afternoon.

Upon arriving, we discovered that an opening ceremony had been planned with His Worship the Mayor of Entebbe as the honored guest. Each person who gave a speech introduced himself by family and faith affiliation, and spoke of the importance of our work for the town of Entebbe and the country of Uganda. I found myself sitting up very straight, hands in my lap, glued to every word, as Fred and I were honored by the commitment to servant leadership reflected in each of the speeches. Once all the speeches were done, we took a deep breath and jumped in with both feet. We finished only the material introducing servant leadership that afternoon, instead of the two sections we had planned!

Driving back to Kampala during rush hour traffic was absolutely harrowing. The limos are mini-vans that include four plush, comfortable seats facing one another, so that two people sit facing backward. Fortunately, I had one of those seats on the return drive, but I still have images imprinted on my brain of Fred and Cherry starting up from the seats, looks of sheer panic on their faces, as pedestrians darted directly in front of us or a bus would make a turn across our “lane” of traffic. Karen would say, “Look at me and just talk to me,” when I would start to panic. Once in Kampala, there are at least a few traffic lights, but a whole lot more cars, not to mention fearless motor scooter drivers and pedestrians. I would never drive here. I understand that the traffic here is nothing compared to India, but it makes New York City seem like child’s play. We have been known to fondly refer to the traffic as “bumper cars on steroids.”

We gathered in Betty’s room (the Governor’s Suite) for our team meeting, where we shared stories from the three encounters that day and prayed together. Owen and Betty had had a visit from the archbishop during their leadership encounter with Catholic priests. He made an impassioned speech strongly supporting the Lead Like Jesus concepts, saying that only by returning to these biblical concepts of leadership would they be able to reverse the slide in the church’s impact; the priests were very attentive and engaged, and eager to find out more about using this material with the youth of Uganda.

The Kampala encounter at the Hotel Africana concluded well, with people hungry for more, wanting to come back the next day. It was filled with young people, the future leadership of Uganda. One young man apologetically arrived an hour late, explaining that he had to travel 3.5 hours to be at the encounter. Seven hours of travel each day to learn to lead like Jesus! We are overwhelmed with the hunger and commitment of the people here, so unlike those who have so many opportunities for training in the United States.

For the Entebbe team, Saturday morning started at “0h-dark-thirty,” otherwise known as 5:45 AM. We climbed into the mini-van at 6:30 and headed to Entebbe. Fred and Cherry took the forward-facing seats, while I decided I was happier facing backwards. Fortunately, it was a beautiful morning instead of the torrential rains of the day before. The sky was blue and while the traffic was heavy, at least it was daylight.

We made fairly good time to Entebbe, then noticed a crowd on the side of the road as we neared the town. Slowing to a crawl (from our 35-40 mph), we passed a mini-van and saw people looking into a ditch. Cherry glanced and saw a man’s body with a cloth over his face. She was overcome with emotion, as were we all. We drove on in a very somber mood.

Once the encounter began, we hardly had time to think. There was a lot of ground to cover without making the participants feel rushed. We marveled at God’s planning as Fred and I shared from our unique perspectives, Fred as a retired military officer, professor in leadership development, and church layman, and me as a leadership coach and ministry professional. Both of us spoke of how these concepts worked in families as well as in professional and ministry settings. Little had we known when we were assigned that we would have government officials in the audience as well as young professionals and ministry leaders.

One man questioned the wisdom of some of the principles regarding vision and implementation, referencing the recent events in Libya as an example of people without strong leadership. It gave us a good opportunity to talk through the importance of not abandoning people to do whatever they want, but to infuse values along with vision, and create commitment and ownership of the leadership vision. At our next break, I asked Fred when the last time was that a global situation like Libya had been referenced in one of his class discussions! We are very aware that we are not in the United States anymore!

We had special moments during the encounter as we watched the older men and women in the room praying blessings over the young men and women. What a sight, as these young men and women wept, hearing words of affirmation and love. So many in Uganda have grown up without parents, a whole generation is missing due to war and disease. Yet those who remain are eager to build into the new generation, the future of their country.

Our encounter began shortly after 9 and finished at about 5:15 … or so we thought. There followed a 90 minute closing ceremony with more speeches, an outpouring of gratitude from organizers and participants, a blessing being prayed over Fred, Cherry and me, and certificate presentations. The pile of certificates seemed to keep growing, as each person came and shook hands with each of us and then received their certificate!

One final story from the day reminded us that God is often at work in ways we cannot see. A young woman came to Cherry afterward to make sure we knew that she was interested in finding out more about Jesus. Cherry had the wonderful privilege to pray with her, and sometime later our new sister in Christ walked out of the room, saying, “I feel such joy!” Cherry is looking forward to keeping in touch with her, and she has put her in touch with local believers.

By the time we climbed back into the mini-van it was 7:00; it took us 90 minutes to get back to Kampala. We were emotionally and physically exhausted, but buoyed up by the outpouring of gratitude from the people and God’s saving work in the life of this young woman, which in and of itself made the exhaustion worth it. We sat dazedly in the hotel restaurant, sharing our stories, finally getting up to grab a few bites to eat from the buffet, and then heading off to bed.

While more could be said, and I haven’t even touched Sunday, it will need to wait until tomorrow night. In the morning, we start three more encounters here in Kampala. Please pray for us as we lead men and women to the leadership example of Jesus Christ. We are excited to see what these new encounters hold!

Day 4: Joy and gratitude

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.–1 Samuel 12:24

These words were our team’s focus today, along with prayer for joy in serving the Lord. Oh, how God answered our prayers!

Today was the first of our leadership encounters in Kampala at the Hotel Africana, attended by 139 people. To our amazement, people began arriving almost two hours before the event, and by 10 minutes before 1:00 PM, we had over 100 men and women, young and old, in the meeting room. One man traveled 350 miles to be with us, while a woman traveled 500 miles from Nigeria to experience the Lead Like Jesus leadership encounter.

Our entire team was present for the kick-off, supporting, trouble-shooting, problem-solving, each of us bringing our gifts and experiences to bear to serve those who came. Erin Menke and Randy Strode were the facilitators for Day One of this two-day encounter. Erin’s inviting smile and calm teaching presence combined with Randy’s teaching gift and pastor’s heart to introduce the concept of servant leadership through video, group interaction and Scripture study. Especially impactful for the Ugandan leaders was the Bill Hybels’ video chronicling Bill’s discovery of Jesus as the greatest leadership role model of all time.

Participants had deep insights about the importance of maintaining their hearts in the second half of the afternoon. They explored the causes, behaviors and consequences related to Edging God Out as the One whom they worship through Phil Hodges’ video teaching segment. Afternoon tea was served at 3:30, a meal especially appreciated, we are sure, by those who had arrived so very early.

The contrast between Edging God Out and Exalting God Only came into sharp view as participants examined the internal and external motivations of both Pilate and Jesus. But the teaching truly found its place in people’s hearts as they participated in a small group exercise that called them to examine how pride and fear negatively impact their personal leadership. Phil’s final teaching on Exalting God Only brought the day to a close, and prepared hearts for tomorrow’s focus on the head, hands and habits of leadership.

We were humbled as participants said good bye for the day. Many sought us out to thank us for bringing the Lead Like Jesus concepts to them:

“Thank you for loving us enough to come,” one young man said, grasping Debbie’s hand.

“How can I put these things into practice in my life?” Kevin was asked.

“I know what I can do,” another man shared, “I can find a verse that speaks to this heart issue and put it in my room to read every day and night.”

“God bless you, God bless you, God bless your family, God bless you,” exclaimed yet another man to Tabitha.

“I have a passion to coach leaders in Eastern Africa. How can I get training to do this?” asked another young man.

“Now you are part of our family,” an elder man said.

Our hearts are full even as our bodies are weary.

Some of our team began preparing for tomorrow even while today’s session was underway. Tomorrow morning, we will head out in three different directions to simultaneously conclude the Kampala encounter and begin two encounters in Entebbe.

In truth, today we experienced the love of God that overcomes all cultural and ethnic barriers to draw brothers and sisters in Christ together in unity. We experienced joy in serving and the synergy of teamwork. We had our hearts overwhelmed anew with the needs of Uganda and love for her people. God gave us our hearts’ desire today. These few words barely begin to describe all that we experienced. We can hardly wait to see what He will do tomorrow!

Day 3: And so we begin

The sunrise and morning came far too early today, but I jumped up, eager to see Kampala in the light of the sun. Light clouds floated in the blue sky, the sun’s light reflected off the polished, creamy walls of the hotel and sparkling blue waters of the hotel pool. The green canopy of trees, interspersed with the roofs of houses and buildings, combined with the rolling landscape, to affirm the city’s reputation as “the green city in the sun.” Originally, Kampala was a hamlet located on one hill that grew to encompass seven hills by 1962 when Uganda gained independence, and today sprawls across 21 hills (www.ugandatravelguide.com).

Breakfast offered an array of British, Ugandan and tropical fare, ranging from kidneys (yes, I tried one) to a teriyaki-like chicken, beef sausage (yum!), made-to-order omelets, and a variety of fresh fruits, yogurts and breads. We lingered over our first non-airline meal in days, visiting with Karen McGuire (VP, Lead Like Jesus), who had just flown in from India with an eight-hour layover in Heathrow. Karen brings a wonderful sense of laughter, confidence and energy to every endeavor, and it is good to have her with us.

Our first team meeting began at 10:30 AM with a welcome and prayer by Tabitha Kyambadde (for non-Ugandan ears, her last name is pronounced “Chahm-body”). It is amazing to spend time with Tabitha, whose husband Stone and daughter Sandra were also with us, and to sense her commitment to the Lord and her passion for Uganda and its leadership.

God began to unleash this vision in Tabitha’s soul about a year ago when she changed her prayer from “God, why am I here in the United States, so far from my family?” to “God, what am I here in the United States to do?” This was the birth of her vision to bring Lead Like Jesus principles to Uganda.

“It’s a big deal to God for us to be here,” she challenged us, “so we should make it a big deal to accomplish what He has for us in bringing us here.”

Several representatives of Ugandan media outlets joined us in the room, and we all listened in as they plied Rich, Tabitha, Karen, and Magala with questions. One repeated question had to do with whether we had a political aim in what we were doing and why we were in Uganda. All four spokespersons repeated the same themes:

1. We are all leaders in our spheres of influence, ranging from home and family, to workplace, community, church, and government.
2. Leadership is very important to Jesus.
3. If you want to lead like Jesus, you have to follow Jesus.

“God has said, ‘Show up (to us),’ and He has apparently said, ‘Show up,’ to about 2500 people. He has already shown up in calling us together. We are part of a miracle. How can we doubt that we are in the right place at the right time?” exhorted Tabitha and Magala.

A news report that I viewed tonight on Ugandan TV interviewed members of the late Idi Amin’s extended family, who desire a memorial to be built in his honor. In contrast to honoring a self-serving leader, we have come to lift up Jesus as the greatest leader of all time and to call all people to emulate Him. As Karen said while being interviewed, “All people are important to Jesus; He respected and valued everyone. He led by example and taught, ‘I have come not to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many.’ Lead Like Jesus believes that leadership change begins from the inside out, not from the outside in. We are calling people to follow Jesus as their leadership role model, and this message is for every person.”

Today is drawing to a close, but our adventure is just beginning.

 

PS For those who read yesterday’s blog, my towels smell like sandalwood. Such an exotic place!

Day 2: The scents of Uganda

The first thing I noticed stepping off of the plane was the scent of incense in the jetway. At least, that’s what I thought it smelled like. It’s been a long time since I have smelled incense.

Given that we arrived at 10:08 PM, the scents in the air are so far my primary impression of Uganda. We went from the incense in the jetway to a sour smell in the entry hall to more incense in the open area where we queued for our visas. $50 and ten fingerprints later, I was officially allowed into Uganda. (No questions or comments were made about my 2004-issued $50 bill, although one of my traveling companions was asked if she had a $50 bill in better shape. When she replied, “no,” the customs official grimaced and threw the bill into the money drawer.)

While waiting in the queue, Jeff Kayongo, a representative from Regal Travel, came over and introduced himself to us. Evidently Mary’s and my Lead Like Jesus briefcases were good clues as to who we were with. Jeff told us that Tabitha was awaiting us outside baggage claim, as per the plan. As we stepped through the sliding glass doors, there she was, smiling and hugging each of us in turn!

The scent-laden air continued to capture my attention as we walked out with our baggage trolleys into the cool night air and star-studded sky. I glimpsed tropical plants and palm trees, reminiscent of my beloved Hawaii, and continued to sniff the air of Africa. Outside, the light scent of incense lingered in the air.

Loading the cargo van with luggage was quickly accomplished by Stone, Tabitha’s husband, Jeff, Magala, and others. Jeff made a point of saying goodbye to me, and said that he would see me Friday, since he will be part of my team for the encounter I am leading in Entebbe.

Suddenly, Erin appeared in our midst, smiling and introducing herself. She had traveled separately from Chicago, and now began now putting names and faces together. She and I talked most of the way from Entebbe to the Imperial Royale in Kampala. She is perhaps the youngest person in our group, cheerful and friendly, and has led several leadership encounters here in Africa already with the Bible League.

The road from Entebbe to Kampala is in great disrepair. One would think it was under construction, except that there are no construction zone signs. Later, a Ugandan national told us that the government has not been concerned with building roads for the people.

Along the way, in addition to the bumpy and jarring ride, we were variously assaulted and tantalized by new smells in the air. Acrid smoke, as if rubber tires were burning, that prompted a coughing fit; marijuana, which I recognized from long ago days in Hawaii; frequent intervals of incense; and a smell that I only slowly was able to describe.

Our hotel is quite nice, offering a combination of polished tile and elegance in the common areas with a spacious colonial feel to the rooms. My room is more like a suite, with a large wardrobe, chest and drawers, flat screen TV, nice window treatment, desk, elegant and comfortable chairs, a modern bathroom (again quite spacious), and bottled water and a tea service waiting for me.

Bernard, along with several bellmen, greeted us as we arrived at the hotel, and invited us to gather in the lounge area. Once we had completed our registration cards, he took copies of our passports and returned with room keys and assignments.

While we waited, I realized that the scent that had defied description along the road was present in the hotel lobby. Suddenly, it popped into my mind: this was reminiscent of cream of mushroom soup! Now, I realize that this may not evoke similar emotions for everyone. I, however, have warm memories of chef-created freshly-made cream of mushroom soups, and I found myself relaxing into familiar and comforting aroma.

Coming up to my room, the scent intensified. I’m wondering if it has something to do with the woods, the trees and the furniture, here in Uganda. Whatever it is, I like it.

I will admit that I didn’t read the key card holder, so once inside my room, I wandered around in the dark for a few minutes before realizing that I needed to insert my key card in the key slot inside my room in order for the lights to work. Another sudden remembrance was that hotels in the European tradition typically do not have washcloths. Ah, yes!

What most hotels do have is hot water, which seems to be in somewhat short supply at the moment. Mary called me about fifteen minutes after we got to our room, asking if I had hot water. Tepid is the best I seem to be able to get. I remember that this is Africa, after all, and perhaps hot water (or the lack thereof) will just be one of the stories of this grand adventure.

For now, it is time for the first night of rest I’ve had in 48 hours, so I am off to bed. More stories will be coming. I can’t wait for the sunrise!