THE ROAD TO PAJULE Part 1

Last week I went to visit the new ministry that God is starting through JB in Pajule, Pader District. This is JB and Grace’s home town so they are very happy to be back home.

I had planned to go by myself but JB asked that I bring a team for evangelism, so six of us went. First to sign up was Mukisa Paul, he is an elder of Calvary Chapel Jinja and has been a friend of mine since 1998. He and JB have worked together a lot and he was eager to go. The added advantage is that Paul is a mechanic and drives. Now we had two drivers to share the road and the load in case of breakdown.

Then Pastor Apollo from Iguluibi agreed to go. He works with us to help oversee the village ministries and keep their pastors on the right path. He is warm, funny and wise and will speak up when he sees someone doing wrong. He doesn’t drive but he doesn’t eat much so we brought him along.

Next Kelli O’Hea volunteered to go. An extraordinary youth teacher and organizer she had a great desire to see JB and Grace’s kids who she had been whipping into shape over the past two plus years. Her involvement was good so that she could help JB get a youth ministry started.

Opio Jacob, a student from last year’s SOM and a pastoral intern in Jinja was invited to go since we needed someone to tell us where JB lived. He had helped in moving the Toolits back home so to keep us going in the right direction, he was added to the team. Plus he can be quite funny.

Finally Anne Rose joined us. She is a Ugandan who has spent the better part of her life in London. She has zeal to serve and has been asking for an opportunity to serve in the church so we figured this would be good timing to see what she can do.

The day before we left we met to discuss our purpose and plans. Scheduled for 2:00pm Anne Rose called at 5 minutes to 2:00 to say she was on her way. When she arrived Kelli and I were the only ones there (only because it was on our compound) and she asked how late the others would be. “African late?” Which means anytime after the scheduled time. “No, Mzungu late.” I responded. This means twenty minutes late. Sure enough Paul and Opio arrived at 2:18, right on time. Apollo however was village late. He showed up that night!

At the meeting we arranged to leave by 5:00am the next morning everyone would come to the church except Anne Rose who we would pick on the way. Worked out just like planned when Paul showed up 18 minutes late. However by this time we had left to pick up Anne Rose then met Paul halfway there and since we were late I didn’t get to kiss Bev goodbye.

That is how the trip started.