Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 12 August 22

Today was cooler (i.e. not heading straight into the 30sC).  I noticed that the early morning sunshine that lit up the guest lodge gardens clouded over by the time we set off for Wakiso and our conference venue.  We planned a varied day: Janet giving her testimony about celibacy in response to yesterday's questions and conversations, Rukundo giving his, and an introduction to Kingdom businesses as a taster for Hilary's full workshop session tomorrow afternoon.  We also negotiated that we'd stay at the church for lunch, to simplify things.

Gregory was anxious to get the three Kenya guys moving towards home as soon as possible, but not at the expense of doing a proper job of things here in Kampala.  He talked through some options, and having them all leave after breakfast tomorrw (Sunday) seemed best.  We could be confident in Chris's administration and care.  Rukundo' too, would need to plan his return to Kigali - he didn't need to hang around for flights, as there are daily coach services.

Len wandered by.  "Did you find where the toilets are?"  "Round that side - some plywood sheet and gravel on the ground.  It just drains into the swamp." I added.  "I couldn't find it," Len continued, "so I went to the bushes.  Then I thought 'crumbs, snakes'!  Pastor Asua's seen black and green mambas and a viper or cobra, which he tried to hit with a rock."

A few spits and spots of rain fell, and folks got restive.  Really, only 4x4s could really make a decent job of reaching the Church, and everyone had an eye on the journey home.  We did finish promptly and were guided round to Ps Asua's home again for the postponed something-a-bit-more-special.  Meanwhile Gregory sat down with the expanded interim team that he'd assembled and introduced, to give them a thorough briefing.

'Buffalo' Charles had been miffed because he didn't get a chance to give greetings from the platform.  For over two hours he wrestled with his native Kikuyu pride while we teased and jostled him to get the matter in perspective.  'Iron sharpening iron' some of the guys had glibly quoted, but the reality was proving tough to process.  Earlier in the week, I'd gently instructed him in the foremost need for passenger consideration when driving a minibus.  Len had explained across the table at Cafe Roma that this is a most touchy sensitivity for a man.  'Buffalo'  had taken it well, and his driving - which he already saw as a serving ministry, had indeed improved.

George had blossomed, too.  First, unaware of the history, his brief contribution to last evening's 'introductions' at Cornelius's had been perceptive and timely.  Although to accompany Hilary and Janet from Nairobi, he'd left his two sons, wife and two-week-old baby, plus a stack of University work, he saw the whole deal as a privilege.  Gregory was keen to find men of this calibre for Uganda.

Our fellowship was jarred by a loud crack and sharp burst of white light.  Ps Asua was smiling, electronic wand in hand, having zapped a mosquito.  Ah, an object of desire.  Time for us all to move on.  A few final exchanges about the arrangement for tomorrow's church services and the afternoon Business seminar, and we were on our way.

I was more relaxed, feeling that the day's format had worked well.  In the back of the minibus, Gregory turned to me and confessed, "I gave them a hard time.  They should have done several things better,"  he stated.  "But we have made good progress."

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 11 August 21

I woke before 6am, and (while Rukundo slept on) stretched my presentation notes on the Renewed Mind to include eight new bits of teaching.  Then I searched for some breakfast.  Janet and Hilary were already out on the veranda: there didn't seem to be too many other guests around.

Pastor Chris arrived promptly and I joined him in his spotless blue car, leading the travel-stained minibus across town to Hoima Road, Wakiso.  For some reason I'd imagined that the Greater Love Christian Centre would be a substantial and well-advertised facility.  Chris turned on to a steep  unmarked  track that tested the limits of his car's traction, steering and and suspension.  Recent heavy rain had cut gulleys in the mud, and it wasn't difficult to imaging us (and the minibus) getting stuck.

We parked, and slithered the last part by foot into an open field.  The building was a structure of poles with sheets of plywood cladding for walls.  I couldn't imagine who would join us in attending.

Pastor Asua was beaming as we arrived.  Maybe he'd been waiting since 8am, the advertised start time.  With dismay, I noted there was no projection screen: and the level of ambient light meant it would be a pretty hopeless exercise, anyway.  I was glad to hand over the problem to Viv.  There were about fifty plastic chairs in the place, and we'd done all our preparation for 200 delegates.   The folks present (who weren't being registered) at this stage looked like the ladies from the neighbourhood and their children, not cutting-edge leaders who would impact Kampala.  Sixteen months' worth of planning for this!  

After Len's introduction, at 11am, I offered everyone to go to the tables at the back and finish the tea that had been provided: I wasn't confident that we could maintain attention for two hours until lunch!  It arrived on time, but the team was being diverted to Ps Asua's home to eat.  I protested on several grounds: we wanted to mix with folks, we didn't want special treatment in the catering, and it would take up too much time.  All in vain.

Charles got the minibus stuck up the track at our destination: by now he'd earned the nickname of 'Buffalo'.  We knew that unless folks got away by 4pm, they would catch the rush-hour congestion, but the late restart gave us no chance of keeping to schedule - and we had booked to be at Cornelius's for 7pm.

The early evening traffic was a misery.  We sat stationary on the Northern Bypass watching the ankole cattle on the suburban waste grounds.   I still have no idea where we went in relation to the conference or our accommodation.

 
Cornelius was his effervescent and voluble self, hugging everyone and pressing us into the back garden to enjoy some cool air.  There, nearly two hours passed of post mortem on the last two years' tensions and failures of resolution, hinging on mismatched assumptions about what Multiply should look like in Uganda and who may be best to lead it.  Gregory was a model of meekness.  Hilary stepped in an suggested that the matter should be resolved at Jesus's cross.  We finally got some food - it was delicious - though Cornelius's wife was near to tears over the dislocated events and relationships.

At last back at our accommodation, I reflected how men, with their egos designed to 'make things happen', take second place to women when some more nuanced need arises.